Wildlife Sanctuaries in Uttar Pradesh

The historical monument, the Taj Mahal, is situated in Uttar Pradesh, making this state a popular destination for tourists. Uttar Pradesh is the fourth largest Indian state (243,290 km sq in area) and is located in the central north part of the country. It is rich in diverse flora and fauna. Many species of plants and animals are suitably inhabited in Uttar Pradesh due to its diverse climatic conditions. Uttar Pradesh has a vast richness of natural resources that make it a favourite tourism spot. It is known for several wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. The largest tiger reserve, Dudhwa National Park, belongs to the state of Uttar Pradesh. There are also numerous other wildlife sanctuaries, bird sanctuaries, national parks, and other protected areas, such as Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, Bakhira Sanctuary (located in Sant Kabir Nagar district), and Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary (located in the southeast of Varanasi). These areas greatly contribute to the protection and conservation of numerous animals and birds’ natural habitats and help their survival.

Wildlife Sanctuaries in Uttar Pradesh

Around 22,121 km sq of Uttar Pradesh is under forest and plantation cover. The naturally occurring areas that provide protection to various animals from hunting, predation, competition, etc., are known as wildlife sanctuaries. These are geographical areas where the natural habitat of animals is protected. India has approximately 543 wildlife sanctuaries, of which 24 are located in Uttar Pradesh. These include the Chandra Prabha Sanctuary, Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, Bakhira Sanctuary, Sandi Sanctuary, Lakh Bahosi Sanctuary, Samaspur Sanctuary, Patna Sanctuary, Kaimoor Sanctuary, Vijai Sagar Sanctuary, Suhelva Sanctuary, Saman Sanctuary, Sur Sarovar Sanctuary, Sohagi Barwa Sanctuary, Kachhua Sanctuary, and Suraha Tal Sanctuary. The largest of these is the Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary. The largest national park is Dudhwa National Park, located in the Lakhimpur Kheri district. However, most sanctuaries and national parks now belong to the state of Uttaranchal, which was carved out of Uttar Pradesh.

Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary

Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary is the largest sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh, founded in 1986. It extends to the Amroha, Bijnor, Ghaziabad, Meerut, and Muzaffarnagar districts and protects various species of birds such as painted (black and white) stork, bulbul, sarus crane, the Indian horned owl, barbet, kingfisher, and many other species of birds.

Bakhira Sanctuary

The Bakhira Sanctuary is a common water bird sanctuary established in the 1980s. It is home to the Indian purple moorhen or the purple grey-headed swamp-hen. The sanctuary is located in the Sant Kabir District and protects various species such as mongoose, nilgai, jackal, and other local and migratory birds.

Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary

The Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary is lesser-known wildlife sanctuary founded in 1957 in the Chandauli district in the southeast region of Varanasi (district of Mughal Sarai). It is covered with beautiful dense forests and waterfalls such as Rajdari, Devdari, and Chandra Prabha Falls and is home to many medicinal plants and animals like leopards and sloth bears. It protects roughly 150 species of birds. Various species include blackbucks, deer, antelope, leopard, sloth bear, sambar, nilgai, wild boar, panther, peafowl, chinkara, and other reptilian species such as gharial and python are found in Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary.

Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary

The Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary is located in the Unnao district, Kusumbhi, Nawabganj in Uttar Pradesh. It hosts almost 250 species of migratory birds and avian fauna. This number varies as many have been relocated to newer areas in Himachal and Rajasthan. This sanctuary provides accommodation, boats, and watchtowers.

Conclusion

In terms of geographical area, Uttar Pradesh is the fourth largest state in India. It is a rich source of natural resources and attracts tourists due to its flora and fauna. There are approximately 24 wildlife sanctuaries located in UP, though many now fall under Uttaranchal. Some important wildlife sanctuaries in Uttar Pradesh include the Hastinapur, Bakhira, and Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuaries. The richness of natural resources in the state results from the diverse types of climates experienced in this area