The state of Uttar Pradesh is likely to get its second tiger reserve to accommodate the increasing number of tigers in the state. Talking to media, divisional forest officer (DFO) Balrampur V.P. Singh said that the forest department has sorted out the report asked by the central government for transforming the Sohelwa wildlife sanctuary into the tiger reserve. He added that the report will be sent to the government within three-four days.

 

Spread over an area of 450 acres of land the Sohelwa sanctuary in Balrampur and Shrawasti districts of Uttar Pradesh accommodates nearly 32 tigers. Apart from these, the wildlife sanctuary has about 50 leopards and other species of animals including hyena, deer, wild boar, blue bulls, flying squirrel, pythons and hog deer. The conversion of flora and fauna-rich sanctuary of Uttar Pradesh is likely to open up the path of tourism development in the state.

 

While interacting with the media, Singh said that Sohelwa tiger reserve will boost up the prospect of tourism in Uttar Pradesh. The rise in the tourism industry will bring economic development in the state. Currently India’s second largest tiger reserve, Dudhwa is situated across Lakhimpur Kheri and Bahraich districts of Uttar Pradesh. The decision of the government will further strengthen the efforts of tiger conservation which emerged as the most-talked-about topic around the globe.