Uttar Pradesh: Flora and Fauna

Uttar Pradesh has plenty of natural resources. Diverse flora and fauna exist in state despite of indiscriminate deforestation and poaching. In the belt of temperate mountainous forests, species of reptiles, insects, mammals and trees are found.

Common birds which are found in Uttar Pradesh are sparrows, parakeets, songbirds, quails, kingfishers, woodpeckers, blue jays, comb ducks, parrots, snipes, black partridge, peacocks, junglefowl, doves, bulbuls and house sparrows. Due to the availability of sunlight, shrubs, herbs and grasses are also abundant in the state.

Large and small species of fauna survive in the Ganges as well as in its tributaries. In 2011, the forest area in Uttar Pradesh was recorded to be 16,583 km2. It is about 6.88 per cent of the geographical area of the state. The famous Bird sanctuaries in Uttar Pradesh are National Chambal Sanctuary, Hastinapur Sanctuary, Bakhira Sanctuary,  Chandra Prabha Sanctuary,  Okhla Sanctuary and Kaimoor Sanctuary. 

The upper Gangetic plain is known for the growth of moist deciduous trees. Tropical thorny forests along with thorny trees are found in the south western parts of Uttar Pradesh. Reptiles in the state include cobras, lizards, ghariyals and kraits. Some animals in the state have become extinct and some are in the verge of extinction. Some of the common fishes in the state are trout and mahaseer.