Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
Nestled in Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit district, the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is part of the Terai Arc Landscape and home to 65 tigers and a variety of prey. Because of its proximity to various tiger habitats both within and beyond the state, the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is an important tiger habitat.
Pilibhit Tiger Reserve was designated as a tiger reserve in 2014. It is part of the Terai Arc Landscape, which runs along the India-Nepal border. The environment consists of sal woods, tall grasslands, and swamps that are maintained by river floods.
The reserve is bordered by the Sharda Sagar Dam, which stretches for 22 kilometres (14 miles). Pilibhit is one of Uttar Pradesh's few wooded districts. According to a 2018 estimate, the Pilibhit district has about 800 km2 (310 sq mi) of forest, accounting for roughly 23% of the district's total area.
Pilibhit's forests are home to at least 65 tigers and a variety of prey, including five kinds of deer. The protected area was once a timber-producing reserve forest before being designated as the 46th tiger reserve in June 2014. The River Sharda, which defines the Indo-Nepal border, forms the reserve's northeastern boundary, while the River Sharda and the River Ghaghara form its southwest boundary.
The reserve has an area of 602.79 km2 (232.74 sq mi) in the core zone and 127.45 km2 (49.21 sq mi) in the buffer zone. The elevation varies between 168 and 175 meters (551 and 574 feet).[4]Pilibhit Tiger Reserve's forest vegetation is of the North Indian wet deciduous type, including sal Shorea robusta woods.
Over 127 mammals, 556 bird species, and 2,100 floral plants live in the Terai woods and grasslands. The sal forest is thick and has strong natural renewal, covering over 76% of the reserve area. The grasslands are prone to periodic floods.
The area features diverse wildlife, with 5 of the 7 deer species present in the nation. In addition, certain critically endangered species, such as the Bengal florican, as well as 13 species of mammals, 9 species of birds, and 11 species of reptiles/amphibians found in the reserve, are endangered and are classified in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
A total of 450 birds, including a substantial number of inhabitants, have been sighted. Though the major focus is on wildlife conservation and preservation, the reserve's administration has also supported low-impact ecotourism.
The park's administration has created a Chuka Ecotourism site on the bank of the Sharda Sagar dam, which is located within the park.
The Dudhwa tigers are divided into one large population and three smaller groups. The Dudhwa reserve, which encompasses the Dudhwa National Park, the Kishenpur and Katarniaghat animal sanctuaries, the Pilibhit woods, and the north and south Kheri forests, is home to the majority of the population.
According to Wildlife Institute of India (WII) research, the Dudhwa-Pilibhit tiger population has significant conservation importance since it is the sole population with Terai-specific ecological and behavioural adaptations.
For its outstanding commitment to tiger conservation and doubling the tiger population in a certain time frame, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve was bestowed with the first-ever TX2 Award, sponsored by CA|TS, Global Tiger Forum, IUCN, UNDP, The Lion's Share, and WWF.