Major wildlife sanctuaries and reserves of Uttar Pradesh

Chandra Prabha Sanctuary: Uttar Pradesh

Established in 1997, Chandra Prabha Sanctuary, a small sanctuary sprawling over an area of 78 sq. kms, is located on Naugarh and Vijaigarh hillocks in Vindhya forest range, in Chandauli district. The sanctuary, rich in varied types of flora and fauna is a feast to the eyes and a perfect treat for the nature lover.

Fauna: The sanctuary has a rich and varied wildlife, which comprises of panther, chinkara, sambar, chital, partridge and peafowl. Leopard, hyena, jackal, wolf and 'sehi' bear can be seen roaming around in the tranquil environs of the park. The park is a bird watchers' paradise, as one can see around 150 species of birds.

Dudhwa National Park: Uttar Pradesh

Further east along the Terai, the Dudhwa National Park, which is also a Tiger Reserve, is localted 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 characterise the wetlands of the Park. These are the habitat of large numbers of barasingha, the magnificent swamp deer, noted for their multi-tined 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 trans located 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 can be seen in Dhudwa.

Other inhabitants include the sloth bear, jackal, wild pig and the lesser cats- fishing cat, leopard cat, jungle cat and civet. Dudhwa has also an abundance of birds. 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, Colorful woodpeckers, barbets, kingfishers, minivets, bee eaters and bulbuls flit through the forest canopy.

Hastinapur Sanctuary: Uttar Pradesh

Founded in 1986, in Meerut, Ghaziabad, Bijnore and Jyotiba Phule Nagar, The Hastinapur Sanctuary sprawling in an area of 2073 sq. kms. The population of the wild animals includes various species of animals including antelope, sambhar, cheetal, blue bull, leopard, hyena, wild cat, and different types of birds. It also houses alligators.

Kaimoor Wildlife Sanctuary: Uttar Pradesh

Kaimoor sanctuary, located on the Uttar Pradesh - Bihar border, is spread over an area of 500 sq. km. The sanctuary, established in 1982 is easily accessible by road. The wildlife population comprises leopard, blackbuck, chital, chinkara, ratel and peafowl.

Katrnighat Wildlife Sanctuary: Uttar Pradesh

Spread over an area of 400 sq. kms near the Nepal border, the little known, Katarniaghat Sanctuary was established in 1976. It is located in the Terai area on Indo-Nepal border of Bahraich district. Tiger, leopard, swamp deer, blackbuck, chital, barking deer, sambar, nilgai, sloth bear and wild boar are some of the inhabitants of the sanctuary.

Mahavir Sanctuary: Uttar Pradesh

Located in Lalitpur in Uttar Pradesh, the Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over an area of 5.4 sq. km. The sanctuary is 125 km from Jhansi, the magnificent gateway to the Bundelkhand region, rendered famous by the legendary Rani Laxmi Bai. The main population of the sanctuary consists of animals such as leopard, Nilgai, wild boar and sambhar and there is a rich variety of avian population. The region is also very rich in flora.

National Chambal Sanctuary: Uttar Pradesh

The rare Gangetic dolphin is the main attraction of National Chambal Sanctuary. The other inhabitants of this sanctuary are magar (crocodile) and gharial (alligator), chinkara, sambar, nilgai, wolf and wild boar. Founded in 1979 the sanctuary is a part of a large area co-administered by Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Nawab Ganj Bird Sanctuary: Uttar Pradesh

Nawabganj bird sanctuary, located 45 kms from Lucknow is Home to several migratory and water birds. An ideal site for bird watching and photography, this sanctuary has a huge marshland and shallow lake bordered with mixed dry forest. The avian population of the sanctuary comprises among others the pochard, shoveller, woodpecker, parakeet, coot, purple moorhen and common teal.

Ranipur Sanctuary: Uttar Pradesh

This 230 sq. kms of sanctuary near Allahabad is rich in wildlife. It is the natural habitat of many animals including leopard, tiger, sloth bear, sambar, blackbuck, peafowl, spur-fowl, jungle fowl, printed partridge, fishing cat and chinkara.