Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Terai area of Bahraich district. It was established in 1976 and it covers an area of 400 km2. It is managed along with the Dudhwa National Park and Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary, as part of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger of the Government of India. The Forests of Katerniaghat provide strategic connectivity between tiger habitats of Dudhwa and Kishanpur in India and the Bardia National Park in Nepal.
Eco system of Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary
Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary has Terai ecosystem comprises of Sal and Teak forests, lush grasslands, steaming swamps and wetlands. It has some of the endangered species like the gharial, tiger, rhino, Gangetic dolphin, Swamp Deer, Hispid hare, Bengal florican, the White-backed and Long-billed vultures.
The herpetic fauna of Katerniaghat is fascinating and has several species like the Banded Krait, the Burmese Rock Python, the Yellow Speckled Wolf-snake and the Paradise Flying Snake.
Tiger, leopard, swamp deer, blackbuck, chital, barking deer, sambar, nilgai, sloth bear and wild boar are other inhabitants of the sanctuary. The important species inhabiting the park are leopards, tigers, deer, parlias, bear, jackals, otters, langoors, monkeys, cheetals, Grey Hornbill, spoonbill, Darter, Black-winged stilt, Pied Kingfisher and Vultures. Different types of vultures like- Cinereous Vulture, Long-billed Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, and Red-Headed Vulture can be seen here. Several local and migratory birds can also be seen here.
Crocodiles and alligators can be found in the Girwa River and its tributaries. The vegetation includes saal, asna, sheesham, bel kusum, banyan, semal, khair, kaus and munj.
