Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is located in Pilibhit district and Shahjahanpur District of Uttar Pradesh. The Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is one of the finest examples of the exceedingly diverse and productive Terai ecosystems. Pilibhit Tiger Reserve was declared in June 2014 based on its special type of ecosystem with vast open spaces and sufficient feed for the elegant predators. It is the India’s 45th Tiger Reserve Project. The northern edge of the reserve lies along the Indo-Nepal border while the southern boundary is marked by the river Sharada and Khakra.
The study done by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) shows that Dudhwa-Pilibhit population has high conservation value as it represents the only tiger population with the ecological and behavioral adaptations of the tiger unique to the Tarai region.
It is home to a habitat for over 60 animals, 375 bird species and 200 flowering plants. It is a mosaic of high sal forests, plantation and grasslands with several water bodies. The jungles are home to a myriad of wild animals including the endangered tiger, swamp deer, Bengal florican, hog deer, leopard, etc. The large carnivores are supported by a very large prey base consisting of cheetal, sambar, wild boar, hog deer, swamp deer, blue bull, etc. The bird life is very rich and diverse and hundreds of species of birds can be seen round.
The area of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve has a dry and hot climate which brings a combination of dry teak forest and Vindhya mountain soils. The major forest types found here include open woodlands, grasslands and riverines covered with thorny woodlands and tall grass. The dry deciduous forests of the area exhibit lush green color in monsoons while in summers, they undergo a dynamic change and turn to desolate grey shade.
The park boasts of an outstanding variety of wildlife creatures in India especially mammals including Royal Bengal tigers, Leopard, wolf, hyena and small cats. One can also see largest Indian deers i.e sambar, nilgai, chital, chousingha and chinkara in the vicinity. As far as bird species is concerned, there are about 375 avifauna found in the area. Main species consist of bareheaded goose, blossom headed parakeet, white necked stork, honey buzzard, king vulture, paradise flycatcher, slaty headed woodpecker and jorden’s bushchat. Pilibhit Tiger reserve also home of many reptiles like snakes, lizard, gecko, turtle and amfibians.