Overview

The Terai Arc Landscape in India spans across Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, covering approximately 62,445 sq. km, including 16,878 sq. km of forests. It supports about 900 tigers, 1,500 leopards, 2,000 elephants and over 600 species of birds, as well as diverse amphibians, reptiles and plants of high conservation significance. It is also among the world's most densely populated regions—around 36.13% of the human population in the Terai lives within five kilometres of a forest boundary.

Human–wildlife conflict is a serious concern across the landscape, often resulting in the loss of human lives, wildlife, crops and property. Habitat connectivity is decreasing for some species as corridors become fragmented by the expansion of cities, industrial zones and rapidly developing linear infrastructure. Other key threats include poaching for illegal wildlife trade, the risk of disease transmission or spillover between wildlife and livestock, and habitat degradation driven by factors such as sand and boulder mining, as well as the spread of invasive species like Lantana camara.

OUR WORK – Terai Arc Landscape

WWF-India has been working in the Terai Arc Landscape since 2000, focussing on the recovery of tiger and rhino populations through strengthened protection, wildlife monitoring and habitat restoration, as well as securing wildlife corridors, mitigating human–wildlife conflict and promoting participatory, community-based conservation and sustainable livelihoods.

KEY PILLARS OF OUR WORK:

Tiger population recovery in Rajaji Tiger Reserve, Uttarakhand:
WWF-India has supported the translocation of five tigers to Rajaji Tiger Reserve since 2020, aiming to enhance breeding and genetic diversity of the species. Long-term efforts have included habitat restoration, strengthened monitoring and patrolling, and securing key corridors—particularly through measures to mitigate the impact of linear infrastructure. Early monitoring results have shown positive signs, marking an important step towards restoring tiger numbers.
Reintroduction of rhinos in the Terai :
As part of efforts to re-establish rhino populations in the Terai region of India, WWF-India has supported a major initiative to free-range four greater one-horned rhinos in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve during 2024–2025. WWF-India is also working closely with the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department to conserve and secure rhino habitats, restore grasslands and revive other mega-herbivore populations in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve and adjoining protected areas.

WWF-India works to protect and restore habitats and their connectivity to facilitate species movement. To this end, it has conducted scoping surveys and developed restoration plans in critical areas, including the Dudhwa–Kishanpur corridor and transboundary corridors such as Lagga-Bagga–Tatarganj–Barahi and the Khata corridor with Nepal. Efforts are also underway to identify and secure protected zones around the Shivalik hills, enabling the movement of elephants and ungulates between protected areas connected to Corbett and Rajaji Tiger Reserves. Additionally, WWF-India collaborates with state forest departments to identify and establish biodiversity-rich areas in the higher altitudes of the Himalayas that can support species migration.

WWF-India works closely with state and national infrastructure development authorities to ensure the implementation of safeguards for wildlife in priority corridors and habitats.

Dedicated animal crossing structures at the Chilla-Motichur wildlife corridor: WWF-India has collaborated with the National Highways Authority of India to integrate wildlife safeguards along the highway connecting Haridwar to Rishikesh over the Motichur range of Rajaji Tiger Reserve. This area, a critical section of the Chilla-Motichur wildlife corridor, is actively used by large mammals, including tigers and elephants. WWF-India’s role has focussed on advocating for ecologically sound infrastructure design, monitoring wildlife movement and raising awareness among local communities. These efforts have contributed to the construction of dedicated animal crossing structures—overpasses and underpasses—as mitigation measures for the national highway passing through this sensitive habitat.
Similar interventions are planned for road and linear infrastructure projects in the Dehra Valley, Kotdwar and Pilibhit—regions that are rapidly developing yet remain ecologically sensitive.

WWF-India uses a multi-layered approach, supported by policy engagement and a strong commitment to collaborative, participatory and inclusive processes, to manage and reduce human-wildlife conflict and promote coexistence between people and wildlife.

Bagh Mitras (Friends of Tigers) and Voluntary Village Protection Force (VVPF) Programmes: With over 400 community volunteers, these initiatives have been game-changers in managing human-wildlife conflict in the landscape. Volunteers support local forest departments by raising awareness about wildlife and the available compensation schemes for losses resulting from human-wildlife conflict. They also assist in responding to conflict situations within their villages.
Tech for Conservation: WWF-India is collaborating with the state governments of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to test an integrated dashboard for monitoring and managing human-wildlife conflict. Bagh Mitras in Uttar Pradesh are already using an app to streamline the reporting and status of compensation for livestock kills. The establishment of a control room operated by the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve enables the monitoring of animal movement and instances of conflict, potentially offering the opportunity to avoid conflict and losses.
Early Warning Systems: As part of an early warning system to monitor wildlife movement near villages around Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, WWF-India has piloted the installation of specialised cameras at strategic locations that report animal presence and movement.