Talking Point
Sanctuaries are aimed at being the perfect abode for wild animals, with everything that they need at their disposal. But animal activists and wildlife experts allege the picture is not glossy in several Uttar Pradesh sanctuaries, particularly those in the terai region, citing various anomalies and challenges. Forest officials, on their part, are quick to refute such claims. TreeTake takes a look at the charges and countercharges flying thick and fast…
Recently, the picture of tigress Beldanda found its way on social media. The subsequent post read: “Beldanda, poor girl, still in a bad shape and an empty stomach. If you ask me, she should be fed with buffalo meat immediately. Drooping ear is also not a good sign. Needs medical attention. Why only trap them when a human is injured or killed?” Another said: “किशनपुर में १७ नम्बर को देखी गई, चेहरा पर तकलीफ है, राजा झादी का अभी भी कुछ पता नहीं है जो चिन्ता की बात है १५ जून को टूरिस्ट के लिए बंद हो जाएगा और अफसर छुट्टी पा जाएँगे.” Then came the post: "These magnificent specimens Raja Jhaadi (Tulli pulia) and Nakkati have been missing for quite some time now in Kishanpur. Officers and field staff avoid discussing the issue and very casually say that they must have gone to the riverside. This means no proper patrolling is done. Desi style of management, for 2 tigers, CWLW should have camped in Kishanpur and supervised the search. My allegation is that they have been poached; if not, then prove it." These posts created quite a furore, prompting activists to urge for suitable and timely action.
To note, the Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary is a part of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve near Mailani in Uttar Pradesh. Kishanpur Wild Life Sanctuary, a four and a half hour drive from Lucknow, is 13-km away from Bhira town in Lakhimpur Kheri District. Spread in a compact area of 200 sq Km, it is part of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, covering an area of 227 km2 (88 sq mi) of terai forest and meadows and was founded in 1972. It is home to tigers, leopards, pythons, barking deer, ghariyal, wild boar and swamp deers. Located some 30 kms from Dudhwa National Park, this sanctuary spreads over 203 sq kms and lies along the banks of the Sharada.
The forests of Dudhwa National Park and Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary are not contiguous, and there is agricultural land in between. Kishanpur's vegetation resembles Dudhwa's, with dense riparian forests and moist deciduous trees like sal, teak, and jamun. The open meadows dotted with tals and perennial streams attract a variety of animals and birds. An enviable 450 resident and migratory bird species visit Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, and plenty of these can be spotted at Jhadi Tal, the premier waterbody of the Kishanpur Sanctuary. The red-crested pochard, mallard, dabchick, grebe, common pochard, pintail, shoveller, river tern, the white-eyed pochard, spoonbill, egret, snakebird, heron, black-necked stork, and many other avian species frequent the lake. Visitors have frequently spotted herds of chital, barasingha, or playful otters prancing about Jhadi Tal. It is the tiger that is often elusive, and although Sharada Beat, around Jhadi Tal, is a known hotspot, a glimpse of this majestic striped cat is entirely a matter of chance.
Varied types of mammals are found in the rich lands of the Terai, but none is so commonly spotted as the numerous types of deer indigenous to this place. Often confused with the antelope, deer have distinctive features that differentiate them from this other variety of the even-toed ungulates (hoofed animals). The swamp deer or Barasingha species is one of the most commonly spotted wild animals around the tals in Dudhwa. Jhadi Tal in Kishanpur has the highest number of barasingha, with the number sometimes even going up to 800. Sambar is the largest Indian deer, measuring up to 150 cm from the shoulders and another 95 cm for its head and antlers. Spotted deer or Chital has a beautiful white-spotted, bright brownish-red coat and six-pronged antlers. These are one of the most beautiful deer species found in India. They are usually spotted in herds of 10-30, out of which only two to three are stags. The Hog-deer gets its name from its hog-like appearance and mannerisms, as well as its habit of keeping its head down while running. Barking deer or Muntjae have a glossy chestnut coat and roam about in pairs of two or small family groups. They only come out in the open fields to graze and usually prefer to keep to the jungles.
Kaushalendra Singh, a birder and wildlife enthusiast, alleged that a tiger and tigress were missing in Kishanpur. They were not seen for a few months, but no one was bothered. The department was not paying attention. He said tigers frequented a particular area, and if they were not spotted there for some time, it raised concern as to where they were. This gave rise to various apprehensions, including poaching. He said the sanctuary would be closed on June 15 and nothing further would be known after that. “Officers are no longer interested in their work,” he alleged, equally blaming a lack of funding. He said there were fewer staff and much dependence on daily wagers (watchers). “Gair sarkari admi theek se kaam nahi karega,” he said. He also alleged that some trees were felled in Dudhwa.
However, Dudhwa field director Rajamohan refuted such claims. “The wound of the tigress is almost healed. It was spotted today, sitting in a pond. The entire jungle was scanned for her—50 persons, guides, etc, combed for 15 days. But since she was hurt, she sat quietly for 15 days and then came out on her own. The latest pictures show that most of the wound has healed, and the remaining will heal on its own. We are monitoring her condition through camera surveillance, and there is nothing serious about her condition. Her age is 13 years—80 years in human age. So, she sat quietly till her wound healed.” On the missing tiger(s), he said, “Kishanpur is like a junction. A tiger can go to Dudhwa or Pilibhit, or other places through corridors. So, it should not be feared that it is missing or killed. Sometimes it goes away and then returns.” On tree felling, he said that some 15-20 days back, in Gauriphanta, some persons were cutting dry trees. They were caught, and the logs were seized. Two Nepali citizens were arrested and sent to jail, while some others ran away. He said there was strict control over illegal felling. However, he admitted to understaffing. He said some members were recruited, but they left because of the tough conditions. Apart from that, there was no problem, he said, adding that a survey of prey base was also done every two years.
Suheldev (Suhelwa) Wildlife Sanctuary, often simply called Suhelwa, is a verdant protected area situated in the Terai–Bhabar region on the Indo‑Nepal border. Spanning approximately 452 km² across the Balrampur, Shravasti, and Gonda districts of Uttar Pradesh, it forms a narrow stretch roughly 120 km long and 6–8 km wide, characterized by a mosaic of dense forests, grasslands, wetlands, and watercourses. Declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1988, the area was formerly part of the Balrampur Estate under the Maharaja before zamindari abolition. Comprising five forest ranges—Tulsipur, Barahawa, Bankatwa, East Suhelwa, and West Suhelwa—it also includes a 220 km² buffer zone, placing its core cover at 232 km². Located just south of the Shivalik foothills, the sanctuary benefits from its position within the Bhabar–Terai eco‑system, serving as a biodiversity hotspot and ecological corridor. The landscape is rich in tree species typical of mixed deciduous and semi-evergreen ecosystems: Sal, sheesham, teak, khair, asna, jamun, haldu, bahera, among others. It also harbors medicinal plants and varied understory flora. The mammals include Bengal tiger (recently confirmed via camera traps), Indian leopard, sloth bear, wolf, hyena, jackal, wild boar, sambar, cheetal, nilgai, monkeys, and elephants. The birdlife is also ample. A key wildlife sanctuary for avifauna, Suhelwa supports over 300 bird species, including migratory waterfowl such as black‑necked grebe, bar‑headed goose, painted stork, and lesser adjutant in its 11-plus wetlands.
Importance of Suhelwa: It forms part of a transboundary wildlife corridor linking Indian and Nepali forests, important for tiger and large herbivore migration. Its wetlands are a critical stopover on the Annapurna flyway, with potential to promote eco‑tourism and community-based birdwatching.
However, according to activist Abhishek Dubey, there are a number of problems in Suhelwa. Dying reservoirs: There are a total of 11 large artificial reservoirs inside the forest that receive water from many mountain rivers (naalas). However, over time, these reservoirs have become full of mountain sediments, significantly reducing their water-holding capacity. As a result, most parts of these reservoirs dry up after the winter season. Although seepage from these reservoirs continues to provide some water to the sanctuary, the drying reservoirs are creating severe water scarcity in the Bhambhar-type Suhelwa forests, where the groundwater table lies 300 feet below the surface. This scarcity is forcing wildlife to migrate toward the Nepalese region, where they are vulnerable to poaching. Additionally, the water shortage is affecting the number of migratory birds visiting these reservoirs, which lie along the Annapurna Flyway and the Central Asian Flyway.
Illegal felling of trees: Suhelwa forests are rich in tree species such as sal, sheesham, teak, khair, Asna, jamun, haldu, bahera, among others. However, the continuous illegal felling of trees by local people and the forest mafia is rapidly degrading the forest. Recently, a Range Officer of the Suhelwa Forest Division, Rakesh Pathak, was arrested in connection with the smuggling of Khair trees. According to Dubey, villagers with bicycles and axes can be seen moving throughout the forest, cutting down trees every day. This situation is driven by multiple factors, including widespread corruption in the forest department, lack of accountability, and poverty in the villages located along the southern boundary of the forest.
Cattle grazing: Suhelwa Forest had been used for huge cattle grazing, especially during the British era and before its declaration as a Wildlife Sanctuary, and even today, cattle, goats, sheep from both Indian and Nepalese villages can be seen grazing inside the forest. This creates a problem of overgrazing and lack of grazing resources for wild prey species like sambhar, nilgai, etc. This is also affecting the presence of wildlife in the forest.
Invasive species and loss of grasslands: The forests of Suhelwa have good grasslands that support grazing species like Sambhar, Nilgai, Barking deer, etc., but today all grazing lands have been brutally invaded by Lantana and Parthenium (Gazar Ghaas). This repelled the population of prey species, and hence, the hunters also left the forest and made its biodiversity vulnerable. Cattle grazing is another major cause of this problem because overgrazed native vegetation and disturbed soil by the heavy bodies of these animals give room to invasive species to thrive.
Poor condition of Van Chowkis: Currently, most of the forest guards live outside the forest, not in their chowkis, due to their poor condition. Watchers of the forest department are not getting paid timely. This creates dissatisfaction among forest personnel and also weakens the vigilance that results in tree felling, poaching, etc.
Roads and trails: Various trails and roads connect Nepalese villages to Indian markers and roads and the people of Nepalese villages on the border rely on Indian markers for their daily life goods. This pressure on the forest land also creates problems for the wildlife of Suhelwa.
Balrampur DFO Dr Semmaran said tree felling had been controlled to a very large extent after the incident in which a ranger was arrested, and there was intensive patrolling. He also said there was no water scarcity as water holes were dug and maintained, and tanker water was used to fill them. He said there were a few villages around Suhelwa so cattle grazing was also not a problem. True, there was understaffing, but forest guards remained deployed in Van Chowkis. There was patrolling on the border with Nepal too, he said, to check any forays from that side.
Crowd pressure in PTR: The Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is situated in the Pilibhit district of Uttar Pradesh, forming part of the Terai Arc Landscape, in the upper Gangetic Plain Biogeographic Province. The river Gomti originates from the reserve, which is also the catchment of several others like Sharda, Chuka, and Mala Khannot. The habitat is characterized by sal forests, tall grasslands, and swamps, maintained by periodic flooding from rivers. The Sharda Sagar Dam, extending up to a length of 22 km, is on the boundary of the reserve. The forest vegetation is of the moist deciduous type, having the finest sal of the country. The forest patches are interspersed with grass meadows. The grasslands are subjected to seasonal flooding. Broadly, such waterlogged grasslands and water bodies constitute a wetland habitat.
The habitat has rich faunal diversity, having 5 out of 7 deer species found in the country. Besides, there are some critically endangered species such as the Bengal florican and the hispid hare. As many as 13 species of mammals, 9 species of birds, and 11 species of reptiles/amphibians found in the reserve are endangered and listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The major faunal species are: tiger, leopard, fishing cat, leopard cat, swamp deer, spotted deer, hog deer, barking deer, black buck, sambar, sloth bear, giant flying squirrel, flying fox, short nosed fruit bat, Indian common yellow bat, painted bat, rhesus macaque, common langur, porcupine, small Indian civet, jackal, Indian fox, hyena, rattle. As many as 450 species of birds have been observed, which include a large number of residents. The common resident birds include: darter, lesser whistling duck, combed duck, grey partridge, black partridge, swamp partridge, peafowl, red jungle fowl, cormorants, egrets, herons, 3 species of hornbill, 6 species of eagle, saras, crane, and several others. Reptiles are well represented with 5 species of lizards, several species of snakes, freshwater crocodile, and gharial. The river system harbours around 79 species of fishes. The reserve has a good tiger status owing to its connectivity with other tiger habitats like Kishanpur (UP), Lagga-Bagga (UP), Shuklaphanta (Nepal) and Nandaur (Uttarakhand).
According to Siddharth Singh, wildlife photographer and a tour operator in PTR, the main problem in Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is crowd pressure. “PTR is doing well, but what about NTCA guidelines on tourism, being as per carrying capacity?” He asked. He said as per SC guidelines, only 20 per cent area was open to tourists and 80 pc was non-tourism. According to this, a carrying capacity was worked out as to how many vehicles should be allowed. In UP carrying capacity had not been decided as yet. So, on weekends, there was intense crowd pressure with locals as well as people from outside flocking. Too many vehicles created a lot of disturbance for animals, with clouds of dust everywhere. Routes were not defined, he said, adding that Zone 2 had limited roads, so vehicles should not be unlimited. He also said that since there was no buffer area, there was pressure on the core.
He said PTR would be closed from June 15 to November 15, so local stakeholders would be under a lockdown for these months. Then there was a weekly closure as per a new guideline. If the jungle were closed for 6 months, eco-tourism would incur losses. “The main problem is absorbing pressure,” he said. According to Singh, tigers were increasing, but corridors were not connected, there were villages in between, so they became sugarcane tigers, foraging into fields. So, boundary walls or fencing were the need of the hour. He also cited understaffing and lack of funding as problems.
DFO Manish Singh outrightly rejected all claims of overcrowding. Only the prescribed number of vehicles was allowed, he said. “There are two zones, and 30 vehicles are allowed in each. We ensure the number does not increase by even one more,” he said. As for the buffer zone, he cited the geography of the area and terrain as the reason. On fencing, he said a boundary wall for such a large expanse was not feasible, but PTR was the first reserve in India to go in for chain-link fencing of 50 km—25km last year and 25km this year. He said he had personally seen tigers trying to cross or break through this fence, but were unable to do so. On tigers venturing out, he said the big cats did not need to do so because PTR was connected to Kishanpur-Dudhwa, Lakhimpur, and even Nepal forests, and the tigers did not lack corridors. There were no villages along corridors, he stressed. Understaffing was everywhere, he said, but was not alarming. “If you still think there are problems, come and see for yourself”, he offered.
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