Pilibhit Tiger Reserve to Become New Sanctuary for Rhinos
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) | - Located in Pilibhit and Shahjahanpur districts of Uttar Pradesh.- Notified as a Tiger Reserve in 2014.- Part of the Terai Arc landscape in the Upper Gangetic Plain.- Gomti River originates from this reserve; catchment area of rivers like Sharda, Chuka, and Mala Khannor.- Home to endangered species like tiger, swamp deer, Bengal florican, hog deer, and leopard.- Won the international award TX2 in 2020 for doubling tiger population in four years. |
| Rhino Sanctuary Plan | - Lagga-Bhagga area of PTR adjacent to Nepal's Shukla Phanta Sanctuary.- Rich grasslands, adequate water sources, and uninterrupted wildlife corridors.- Rhinos from Assam and Nepal to be translocated under Project Rhino.- No recorded rhino population currently in PTR. |
| Project Rhino | - Launched in the 1980s to conserve one-horned rhinoceros.- Multi-faceted program with strategies like habitat conservation, community engagement, law enforcement, and scientific research. |
| Benefits | - Preserve dwindling rhino population and strengthen wildlife ecosystem.- Promote tourism and improve economic conditions of local communities.- Protected and demarcated areas to reduce human-wildlife conflict. |