Dudhwa National Park in a Nutshell Location: Dudhwa (Dist. Lakhimpur Kheri State Uttar Pradesh Country India) is tucked between Nepal and India.

Area: The total area of the National Park and the Buffer Zones is 680 sq km.

Distance from Delhi: Around 450 Km via Bareily-Shahjahanpur-Bijua-Pallia Route

Distance from Lucknow: Around 230 kms via Sitapur-Lakhimpur-Bijua-Palia route.

Geography: Dudhwa is the last remnant of unique and complex Terai ecosystem. This highly threatened ecosystem is a mosaic of dense Sal forests (Woodlands), tall Grasslands and swamps (Wetlands) maintained by periodic flooding.

Glimpses of the Faunal Treasures:1. Dudhwa is home to a sizable tiger population. 2. This place is the last refuge for critically endangered sub-species of the Swamp deer, Cervus duvauceli duvauceli (called Barasingha in Hindi). 3. Out of the seven species of deer in India, five (swamp deer, sambar, barking deer, spotted deer and the hog deer) thrive at Dudhwa. 4. Forty-seven species of mammals are found at Dudhwa; of these thirteen species are listed as endangered. 5. Jungle cats, jackals, wild boars, porcupines, mongooses, monkeys are quite easily sighted. 6. Around Four hundred and fifty species of birds dwell in the diverse habitats of Dudhwa.

Ecological Importance:The Park plays a vital role in the maintenance of the water and climatic conditions of the region. These conditions shape the success of the agricultural activities of the region.

A Jurassic Park:Dudhwa has beautiful grasslands. These grasslands are the natural habitat of Indian one-horned rhinoceros. About a hundred and fifty years ago the last rhino was ruthlessly hunted down. Conservationists felt that the habitat at Dudhwa could support a rhino population, and so in 1984, rhinos from Assam and Nepal were introduced. The rhinos are kept inside a 30 sq. km electrical fence and their activities strictly monitored. The family has increased to 17 and despite the hiccups is doing well. Dudhwa is thus a veritable Jurassic Park.

Tharus: the tribalsThe buffer zones of Dudhwa are inhabited by the Tharus. This tribal community has lived in harmony with the jungles for more than a century. Tharus are an indispensable part of Dudhwa. They prove that man and nature can co-exist in peace.