In a rare instance, UP's Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary witnesses presence of tigers

Two wildlife sanctuaries in Uttar Pradesh, the Sohagi Barwa Wildlife Sanctuary and Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary, have been added to tiger-detected grids, owing to the presence of tigers recently detected in the wild region.

While the Sohagi Barwa Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the Maharajganj district, was already a tiger habitat, Suhelwa rarely saw tigers lingering in its embrace. However, both sanctuaries require prey and habitat restoration, along with improvement in security measures of the big cat population. The authorities are now focussing on ensuring long-term survival of the new populations.

Spread over 452 sq kms of land, the Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary, that lies in Shravasti, Balrampur and Gonda districts, is famed amidst wildlife wayfarers for sheltering animals like leopards, bears, wolves, hyenas, wild boars, deer, monkeys, nilgai, among others. Declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1988, it is engulfed in trees of Sal, Sheesham, Teak, Asna, Jhingan Bahera, and so on.