Dudhwa National Park — UP's Only National Park

Overview — UP’s Crown Jewel of Wildlife

Dudhwa National Park is the only national park in Uttar Pradesh. Located in the Terai belt of Lakhimpur Kheri district, it is a treasure trove of biodiversity that preserves one of the last remaining stretches of the Terai ecosystem.

Exam Tip: Dudhwa is UP’s ONLY national park. All other protected areas in UP are wildlife sanctuaries. This is a guaranteed exam question.

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History and Billy Arjan Singh

The story of Dudhwa is inseparable from the legendary conservationist Billy Arjan Singh (1917–2010). A hunter-turned-protector, Billy devoted his life to saving the Terai wildlife, particularly the Barasingha (swamp deer).

Key Milestones

Billy Arjan Singh received the Padma Shri and the World Wildlife Fund International Award for his conservation work. His farm “Tiger Haven” near the park boundary became a symbol of human-wildlife coexistence.

Exam Tip: Billy Arjan Singh is associated with Dudhwa the way Jim Corbett is associated with Corbett National Park. Remember: Billy = Dudhwa = Barasingha.

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The Barasingha — Flagship Species

The Barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii), also called the swamp deer, is the flagship species of Dudhwa and the state animal of Uttar Pradesh.

The Barasingha subspecies found in Dudhwa is Rucervus duvaucelii duvaucelii — the wetland/northern subspecies. Kanha National Park (MP) has a different subspecies (hard-ground Barasingha).

By the 1960s, Barasingha numbers in Dudhwa had dropped to fewer than 100. Billy Arjan Singh’s campaigns led to strict protection, habitat management (controlled grassland burning), and eventually a remarkable recovery.

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Tigers and Other Big Cats

As a Tiger Reserve since 1987, Dudhwa supports a healthy population of Bengal tigers. The park is part of the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) — a conservation corridor stretching from Rajaji (Uttarakhand) to the Chitwan region of Nepal.

Other Notable Mammals

Exam Tip: Indian Rhinos in Dudhwa were reintroduced from Kaziranga and Pobitora (Assam) in 1984. They are NOT native to UP — this was a deliberate translocation.

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Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary

Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary lies adjacent to Dudhwa and forms part of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. It serves as a critical buffer zone and wildlife corridor.

Together, Dudhwa NP and Kishanpur WLS form a contiguous protected area that enables wildlife movement and maintains genetic diversity.

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Flora of Dudhwa

The Terai forests of Dudhwa are classified as Tropical Moist Deciduous with patches of grasslands and wetlands.

The tall grasslands of Dudhwa are ecologically critical — they provide habitat for Barasingha, hispid hare, Bengal florican, and hog deer. Controlled burning (prescribed fire) is used to maintain these grasslands.

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Terai Arc Landscape

Dudhwa is a key component of the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) — an international conservation initiative spanning the Terai belt of India and Nepal.

The TAL concept recognizes that isolated protected areas are insufficient — wildlife needs connected corridors to maintain viable populations and genetic exchange.

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Visiting Dudhwa

The Tharu tribe — an indigenous community of the Terai — lives in villages around Dudhwa. Their traditional knowledge of the forest has been integrated into eco-tourism programmes.

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Key Takeaways

• Dudhwa is UP’s only national park — established 1977, Tiger Reserve since 1987
• Located in Lakhimpur Kheri, bordering Nepal
• Billy Arjan Singh was the key conservationist behind Dudhwa’s protection
• Barasingha (swamp deer) is the flagship species and UP’s state animal
• Indian Rhinos were reintroduced from Assam in 1984
• Hispid hare — critically endangered, found in Dudhwa’s grasslands
• Part of the Terai Arc Landscape connecting Indian and Nepali reserves

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Summary Cheat Sheet