The visit of Sir D.B. Brandis in 1860 to the
area culminated in 303 sq. mile forest area of the present day Dudhwa National
Park being brought under the control of Government in 1861 for preservation.
In Kheri District, all the Sal and miscellaneous forests and grasslands in Kharigarh
Pargana, between the Mohana and Suheli river, were included in the then North
Kheri Forest Division.
More areas were reserved for protection between 1867 and 1879 and added to the
Division. The area of the Division was legally constituted as Reserved Forests
in 1937.
The Sonaripur Sanctuary comprising 15.7 sq. km. area was created in 1958 to
specifically protect swamp deer (Cervus duvaceli duvaceli).
The area was too small and was later enlarged to 212 sq. km. and renamed as
Dudhwa Sanctuary in 1968. Later, more area was added to the Sanctuary and in
1977, it was declared Dudhwa National Park.
The total area of the Park was 616 sq. km. of which 490 sq. km. was core zone
and balance 124 sq. km. buffer zone.
Dudhwa Tiger Reserve was created in the year 1987-88, comprising Dudhwa National
Park and Kishanpur Sanctuary (203.41 sq. km. ). With an addition of 66 sq. km.
to the buffer zone in 1997, the present area of the Tiger Reserve is 884 sq.
km.