Which of the following National Parks/Wildlife Sanctuaries are in Bihar?

1. Valmiki National Park

2. Dudhwa National Park

3. Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary

4. Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

The correct answer is 1 and 4.

Key PointsValmiki National Park:

• Valmiki Tiger Reserve forms the eastern most limit of the Himalayan Terai forests in India, and is the only tiger reserve of Bihar.
• Situated in the Gangetic Plains bio-geographic zone of the country, the forest has combination of bhabar and terai tracts.
• Valmiki Tiger Reserve lies in the north-western most portion of West Champaran district of Bihar.
•  Valmiki Tiger Reserve covers 898.45 km2 (346.89 sq mi), which is 17.4% of the total geographical area of the district. As of 2022, there were 54 tigers in the Reserve.
• Name of the district has been derived from two words Champa and Aranya meaning Forest of Champa trees. 

Dudhwa National Park:

• Dudhwa National Park is a protected area in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India, that was established in 1977.
• The park covers an area of 490 square kilometers and is located in the district of Lakhimpur Kheri, along the Indo-Nepal border.
• The history of Dudhwa National Park dates back to the early 20th century when the area was used as a hunting ground by the British rulers of India. In 1958, the area was declared a wildlife sanctuary by the government of Uttar Pradesh, with the aim of protecting the swamp deer population, which was facing the threat of extinction.
• Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is a protected area in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh, India.
• It was established in 1988 and covers an area of 1,284 square kilometers, including the Dudhwa National Park and Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary. 

Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area located in the Bikaner district of the northwestern Indian state of Rajasthan.
• This sanctuary is situated near the historic Gajner Palace, which was once a royal hunting lodge for the Maharaja of Bikaner.
• The sanctuary covers an area of about 6,000 acres and is characterized by a mix of desert and woodland ecosystems.
• The sanctuary is home to a variety of wildlife species, including chinkara (Indian gazelle), blackbuck, neelgai (blue bull), wild boar, and numerous bird species.
• It is also known for its large population of migratory birds, especially during the winter months when birds from various parts of the world flock to the sanctuary's water bodies.

Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area located in the Munger district of the state of Bihar in India.
• This sanctuary covers an area of approximately 682 square kilometers (263 square miles) and is situated in the southeastern part of the state.
• It was established in 1976 and is named after the Bhimbandh hills that are found within its boundaries.
• The sanctuary is predominantly covered by deciduous forests. You can find a variety of plant species, including sal, peepal, mahua, semal, and more.
• These forests provide essential habitats for the wildlife in the region.