Basti Bahraich Terai Forest Dudhwa Tiger Reserve Eastern UP

Bahraich and Basti districts in eastern UP's terai belt border Nepal and contain the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve — a 490 sq km terai sal forest that is one of the finest examples of the Himalayan terai ecosystem, providing habitat for one-horned rhinoceros (reintroduced), Bengal tiger, barasingha, swamp deer, and the Gangetic river dolphin in the Sharda river. Bahraich district's terai belt supports Tharu tribal communities who practise traditional forest farming, bamboo craft, and fishing in the Sharda-Ghaghra river confluence. Basti district grows wheat, paddy, and maize on the Indo-Gangetic plain and has a tradition of the Bahriya (river fish catching) community on the Ghaghra river.