Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) is set to become a new sanctuary for rhinos from Nepal, as efforts to establish a permanent habitat for the visiting pachyderms gain momentum.

About Pilibhit Tiger Reserve

• Located in Pilibhit District, Lakhimpur Kheri District, and Bahraich District of Uttar Pradesh, India.Lies along the India-Nepal border in the foothills of the Himalayas and the plains of the ‘terai arc Landscape’ in Uttar Pradesh.In 2020, it bagged international award TX2 for doubling up the number of tigers in the past four years.

• River and Dam:
  • River Gomti originates from the reserve.
  • Catchment area for several rivers including Sharda, Chuka, and Mala Khannot.
  • Sharda Sagar Dam, extending 22 km, is on the reserve boundary.
• Vegetation:
  • Characterized by North Indian moist deciduous type.
  • Includes sal forests, tall grasslands, and swamps maintained by periodic flooding.
  • Sal woodland covers nearly 76% of the reserve area.
• Fauna:
  • Wildlife includes the Bengal tiger, swamp deer, Bengal florican, hog deer, leopard, among others.

Project Rhino

• Objective: Relocate rhinos from Assam and Nepal to PTR.
• Long-term Goal: Encourage rhinos from Nepal to establish a permanent presence in PTR (currently, they migrate annually from Shuklaphanta National Park to Lagga Bagga).
• Timeframe: 10-year initiative (2022-23 to 2030-31).
• Designated Sites in UP:
  • Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR).
  • Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary (Lakhimpur Kheri district).
  • Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary (Bahraich district).
  • Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary (Shravasti, Balrampur, Gonda districts).
  • Sohagi Barwa Wildlife Sanctuary (Maharajganj district).

About Rhinos

• Rhinos have long been hunted for their horns, which are highly valued in some cultures.
• The five surviving rhino species (Black and White African rhino, Asian rhino species – greater one horned, Sumatran and Javan rhinos) are still threatened by habitat loss and hunting.
• IUCN Status:
  • Greater one horned Rhino: Vulnerable
  • Sumatran Rhino: Critically Endangered
  • Javan Rhino: Critically Endangered.
  • Black African Rhino: Critically Endangered
  • White African Rhino: Near Threatened
• India is home to the largest number of Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros in the world.
• At present, there are about 4014 Indian rhinos, with more than 70% of the population concentrated in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park.