Further
east along the Terai, the Dudhwa National Park, which is also a Tiger Reserve,
is located in the district of Lakhimpur - Kheri, very close to the Nepal border.
The 498.29 sq. km. Park has fine sal forests and extensive grasslands. Tall coarse grass sometimes forming impenetrable thickets, swampy depressions and lakes characterize the wetlands of the Park.
These are the habitat of large numbers of barasingha, the magnificent swamp deer, noted for their multi-fined antlers (bara-12, singha-horn).
These in turn support the predators - the tiger and leopard. Though the Park has a fair population of tigers, they are rarely seen owing to the nature of the forest cover.
The grasslands are also ideal terrain for the Indian one horned rhinoceros. In an exciting project undertaken in 1984, a number of rhinos were translocated here from Assam and Nepal, in an attempt to extend their habitats and to exclude the possibility of wiping out entire populations through disease and Epidemics. Presently, 13 rhinos car be seen in Dudhwa.
Other inhabitants include the sloth bear, jackal, wild pig and the lesser cats - the fishing cat, leopard cat, jungle cat and civet. Dudhwa has also an abundance of birds.
Its marshes are home to a range of water birds both local and migratory. There are spectacular painted storks black and white necked storks, sarus cranes and varied night birds of prey, ranging from the great Indian horned owl to the jungle owlet.
Colourful
woodpeckers, barbels, kingfishers. minivets, bee eaters, and bulbuls flit through
the forest canopy. A fragile natural paradise, Dudhwa endeavors to protect its
wild haven from the depredations of an expanding human population. General Information :
Best Time to Visit :
November to May.
Nearest Town :
Palia (10 Km)
How to Get Here :
Air: Lucknow (250 Km)
Rail: Dudhwa
