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Wetlands in Dudhwa National Park, Dudhwa National Park in Uttar Pradesh, Dudhwa National Park, Dudhwa National Park Uttar Pradesh |
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WETLANDS IN DUDHWA NATIONAL PARK - Uttar Pradesh
Location: on the Nepalese border, about 180 km NNW of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Area: Area of wetland unknown; National Park 81,100 ha; core area 64,800 ha
Altitude: 152-183 m
Biogeographical province: 4.8.4 Wetland type: 11,13, 14, 15, 18, 21
Description of site: A large National Park on a vast alluvial plain near the foothills of the Himalaya, with a fine selection of terai ecosystems. Much of the Park is a mosaic of tropical semi-evergreen forest, tropical moist deciduous forest, dry deciduous forest, riparian forest, and swamp forest. The wooded areas are fragmented by extensive areas of mesophyllous grassland known as phantas. Wetland habitats include a number of small perennial rivers, ponds, lakes (known as tals), and marshes. The most important lakes are Banki Tal and Kukra Tal. Together with Royal Sakla Phanta and Royal Bardia National Parks in Nepal, Dudhwa is an example of the often marshy, undulating alluvial lands between the Bhabar and the Gangetic Plain, an area that has been largely converted to agricultural use elsewhere in the sub-continent west of Assam
Climatic conditions: Tropical monsoon climate typical of the northern Indo-Gangetic plain, with an average annual rainfall of about 1000 mm. The monsoon rains occur from June to October
Principal vegetation: The phanta grasslands are composed of Themeda arundinancea, Saccharum spontaneum, S. benghalensis, Narenga porphyrocoma, Vetiveria zizanoides, Cymbopogon flexuousus, Demostachya bipinnata, Apluda mudtica, Dichanthium annulatum, D. glabrum, Bendosorghum sp., Hygroryza aristata, Panicum paludosum and Echinochloa spp. The riparian forest is principally composed of Acacia catechu, Dalbergia sissoo, Trewia nudiflora, Mallotus philippensis, occasional Syzygium um cuminii, and Barringtonia acutangula. The small lakes (tats) are eutrophic, with extensive submerged and emergent vegetation; stands of Phragmites sp. and Typha spp. fringe the lakes and Nymphaea spp. are abundant on the surface of the water Land tenure: State-owned
Conservation measures taken: A first working plan was developed in 1886. First established in 1958, Sonaripur Sanctuary was extended to cover about 61,000 ha in 1963, and declared the Dudhwa Sanctuary. In February 1977, the Government of Uttar Pradesh notified an area of 49,029 ha as Dudhwa National Park under the Wildlife (Protection) Act,1972. Today the park covers 81,100 ha. Dudhwa came under Project Tiger in 1988. In 1984, a major rhino rehabilitation project was started in Dudhwa, since the forests had rhino 150 years ago. Five rhinos were relocated from Assam and later from Nepal. At present, the total rhino population in the park is 12, but has only one breeding male. Adjoining swampy reed beds and moist grasslands of the terai were not included in the National Park. These habitats are vital for the Park’s animal communities, especially the swamp deer. Extension of the Park to cover some terai areas is proposed for the protection of the swamp deer, the indicator species of the swampy terai, and to improve park management
Conservation measures proposed: An area of 9000 ha has been selected for the re-introduction of the rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis). It is predicted that this area could eventually accommodate 100 individuals. A buffer zone around much of the park should absorb the majority of grazing incursions, but radical proposals are required to reduce conflicts along the southern boundary
Land use: A managed nature reserve
Disturbances and threats: The major problems are poaching, illegal burning, grazing by domestic livestock, and a railway line and roads which run through the Park. The transport lines crossing the border into Nepal make the area vulnerable to poachers and smugglers. The Dudhwa forests are threatened by rising anti-tiger sentiments stirred by local politicians keen to exploit the potential gains should the Park be reduced in area. Serious encroachment has taken place. Several people have been killed, and at least 15 tigers were illegally shot or poisoned between December 1986 and December 1987. In order to reduce conflicts, the buffer zone may be extended, but public sentiment peripheral to the Park might prevent, or even reverse, any attempts to expand the area of the Park. Swamp deer population in Dudhwa has reduced by 30% in the last three years, because of poaching and habitat degradation. The area of the National Park is considered not viable because of the exclusion of terai lands in the surroundings. The park is therefore like an island, on which severe pressures are being exerted by the ever-increasing human population all around, resulting in a decline of the indicator species such as swamp deer and tiger. The natural productivity, and hence the carrying capacity, is probably on the decline
Economic and social values: Potentially an important site for tourism. Re-introduction of the Indian one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) has stimulated an interest in the Sanctuary, and the number of visitors is likely to increase. The site is almost contiguous with Royal Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve in Nepal
Fauna: The Sanctuary supports an internationally significant population of the nominate race of the swamp deer (Cervus duvaucelli), and there is a large population of the common otter (Lutra lutra). Healthy populations of Panthers tigris, Cervus unicolor, Axis axis and Felis viverrina occur peripheral to the wetland areas, and there is a small population of Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) in the Park (not more than 20 individuals in 1987). The endangered hispid hare (Caprolagus hispidus) may occur in the grassland areas
The wetlands support important wintering populations of waterfowl, including Ciconia episcopus, Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus, Threskiornis melanocephalus, Sarkidiornis melanotos, and Grus antigone. A waterfowl census at Banki Tal in January 1987 recorded: 700 Anser anser 1500 Dendrocygna javanica
200 Netts rufina 200 Sarkidiornis melanotos
500 Porphyrio porphyrio 300 Fulica atra 60 Hydropha
sianus chirurgus
Location: on the Nepalese border, about 180 km NNW of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Area: Area of wetland unknown; National Park 81,100 ha; core area 64,800 ha
Altitude: 152-183 m
Biogeographical province: 4.8.4 Wetland type: 11,13, 14, 15, 18, 21
Description of site: A large National Park on a vast alluvial plain near the foothills of the Himalaya, with a fine selection of terai ecosystems. Much of the Park is a mosaic of tropical semi-evergreen forest, tropical moist deciduous forest, dry deciduous forest, riparian forest, and swamp forest. The wooded areas are fragmented by extensive areas of mesophyllous grassland known as phantas. Wetland habitats include a number of small perennial rivers, ponds, lakes (known as tals), and marshes. The most important lakes are Banki Tal and Kukra Tal. Together with Royal Sakla Phanta and Royal Bardia National Parks in Nepal, Dudhwa is an example of the often marshy, undulating alluvial lands between the Bhabar and the Gangetic Plain, an area that has been largely converted to agricultural use elsewhere in the sub-continent west of Assam
Climatic conditions: Tropical monsoon climate typical of the northern Indo-Gangetic plain, with an average annual rainfall of about 1000 mm. The monsoon rains occur from June to October
Principal vegetation: The phanta grasslands are composed of Themeda arundinancea, Saccharum spontaneum, S. benghalensis, Narenga porphyrocoma, Vetiveria zizanoides, Cymbopogon flexuousus, Demostachya bipinnata, Apluda mudtica, Dichanthium annulatum, D. glabrum, Bendosorghum sp., Hygroryza aristata, Panicum paludosum and Echinochloa spp. The riparian forest is principally composed of Acacia catechu, Dalbergia sissoo, Trewia nudiflora, Mallotus philippensis, occasional Syzygium um cuminii, and Barringtonia acutangula. The small lakes (tats) are eutrophic, with extensive submerged and emergent vegetation; stands of Phragmites sp. and Typha spp. fringe the lakes and Nymphaea spp. are abundant on the surface of the water Land tenure: State-owned
Conservation measures taken: A first working plan was developed in 1886. First established in 1958, Sonaripur Sanctuary was extended to cover about 61,000 ha in 1963, and declared the Dudhwa Sanctuary. In February 1977, the Government of Uttar Pradesh notified an area of 49,029 ha as Dudhwa National Park under the Wildlife (Protection) Act,1972. Today the park covers 81,100 ha. Dudhwa came under Project Tiger in 1988. In 1984, a major rhino rehabilitation project was started in Dudhwa, since the forests had rhino 150 years ago. Five rhinos were relocated from Assam and later from Nepal. At present, the total rhino population in the park is 12, but has only one breeding male. Adjoining swampy reed beds and moist grasslands of the terai were not included in the National Park. These habitats are vital for the Park’s animal communities, especially the swamp deer. Extension of the Park to cover some terai areas is proposed for the protection of the swamp deer, the indicator species of the swampy terai, and to improve park management
Conservation measures proposed: An area of 9000 ha has been selected for the re-introduction of the rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis). It is predicted that this area could eventually accommodate 100 individuals. A buffer zone around much of the park should absorb the majority of grazing incursions, but radical proposals are required to reduce conflicts along the southern boundary
Land use: A managed nature reserve
Disturbances and threats: The major problems are poaching, illegal burning, grazing by domestic livestock, and a railway line and roads which run through the Park. The transport lines crossing the border into Nepal make the area vulnerable to poachers and smugglers. The Dudhwa forests are threatened by rising anti-tiger sentiments stirred by local politicians keen to exploit the potential gains should the Park be reduced in area. Serious encroachment has taken place. Several people have been killed, and at least 15 tigers were illegally shot or poisoned between December 1986 and December 1987. In order to reduce conflicts, the buffer zone may be extended, but public sentiment peripheral to the Park might prevent, or even reverse, any attempts to expand the area of the Park. Swamp deer population in Dudhwa has reduced by 30% in the last three years, because of poaching and habitat degradation. The area of the National Park is considered not viable because of the exclusion of terai lands in the surroundings. The park is therefore like an island, on which severe pressures are being exerted by the ever-increasing human population all around, resulting in a decline of the indicator species such as swamp deer and tiger. The natural productivity, and hence the carrying capacity, is probably on the decline
Economic and social values: Potentially an important site for tourism. Re-introduction of the Indian one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) has stimulated an interest in the Sanctuary, and the number of visitors is likely to increase. The site is almost contiguous with Royal Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve in Nepal
Fauna: The Sanctuary supports an internationally significant population of the nominate race of the swamp deer (Cervus duvaucelli), and there is a large population of the common otter (Lutra lutra). Healthy populations of Panthers tigris, Cervus unicolor, Axis axis and Felis viverrina occur peripheral to the wetland areas, and there is a small population of Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) in the Park (not more than 20 individuals in 1987). The endangered hispid hare (Caprolagus hispidus) may occur in the grassland areas
The wetlands support important wintering populations of waterfowl, including Ciconia episcopus, Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus, Threskiornis melanocephalus, Sarkidiornis melanotos, and Grus antigone. A waterfowl census at Banki Tal in January 1987 recorded: 700 Anser anser 1500 Dendrocygna javanica
200 Netts rufina 200 Sarkidiornis melanotos
500 Porphyrio porphyrio 300 Fulica atra 60 Hydropha
sianus chirurgus
For Wetlands in Dudhwa National Park
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