Dudhwa Tiger Reserve and the Terai Arc Landscape
GS PAPER I & III — Geography & Environment
| Why in News? Dudhwa Tiger Reserve regularly features in Prelims due to its role in tiger and Barasingha conservation, its Terai ecosystem, and its position within the transboundary Terai Arc Landscape. |
| Key Facts for Prelims Located in Lakhimpur Kheri district, Uttar Pradesh.Established as a Tiger Reserve in 1987 under Project Tiger.Forms part of the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) and lies along the India-Nepal border region.Comprises three components: Dudhwa National Park, Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary, and Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary.Situated in the Terai region at the foothills of the Himalayas — characterised by marshes, wetlands, grasslands, Sal forests, and riverine ecosystems (not an alpine ecosystem).The Mohana River flows through the reserve; the Sharda River shapes the wider Terai landscape.Dominant flora: Sal (Shorea robusta) forests, moist deciduous forests, and tall wet grasslands.Key fauna: Royal Bengal Tiger, leopard, swamp deer (Barasingha), reintroduced one-horned rhinoceros, Asian elephant, wild boar, and sloth bear.Dudhwa is a critical habitat for the hard-ground Barasingha and has played a major role in conserving this endangered subspecies.Functions as a wildlife corridor within the Terai Arc Landscape, connecting India and Nepal’s protected areas, including proximity to Nepal’s Shuklaphanta National Park. |
Quick-Reference Data Table
| Attribute | Detail |
| Location | Lakhimpur Kheri district, Uttar Pradesh |
| Established as Tiger Reserve | 1987, under Project Tiger |
| Landscape | Part of the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) |
| Components | Dudhwa National Park, Kishanpur WLS, Katerniaghat WLS |
| Key rivers | Mohana River, Sharda River |
| Flagship species | Tiger, hard-ground Barasingha, reintroduced one-horned rhinoceros |
| Transboundary link | Adjacent to Nepal’s Shuklaphanta National Park |
| UPSC Note — Prelims Angle A common distractor claims Dudhwa lies in a Himalayan alpine ecosystem — remember it is specifically a Terai grassland and moist forest ecosystem. Keep the three-component structure (Dudhwa NP, Kishanpur WLS, Katerniaghat WLS) and the Barasingha/rhino conservation angle ready for statement-based questions. |
| Prelims MCQ Practice With reference to Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, consider the following statements: 1. It is located in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh. 2. It forms part of the Terai Arc Landscape. 3. It includes Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary as one of its components. 4. It lies entirely within a Himalayan alpine ecosystem. Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Answer: (a) Dudhwa is a Terai grassland and moist forest ecosystem, not an alpine ecosystem, making statement 4 incorrect. It is well known for tiger, rhino, and swamp deer conservation. |
