The Royal Bardiya National Park:
Area 968 sq. Kms.

This Park is situated in the far mid- western part of Terai, east of the Karnali River, and it is one of the largest undisturbed areas of wilderness in the Terai region. About 70 % of the park is covered with sal forest with the remaining, a balanced mixture of grassland, savannah and riverine forest.

The approximately 1500 people who used to live in this valley have been resettled elsewhere. Since farming has ceased in the Babai Valley, natural vegetation is regenerating, making it an area of prime habitat for wildlife. The park provides excellent habitat for endangered animals like the rhinoceros, wild elephant, tiger, swamp deer, black buck, ghariel crocodile, marsh mugger crocodile and Gangetic dolphin. Endangered birds include the Bengal florican, lesser florican, silver eared mesia and Sarus crane. More than 30 different mammals, over 200 species of birds, and many snakes, lizards and fish have been recorded in the park's forest, grassland and river habitats. A good number of resident and migratory birds are found in the park.

KOSHI TAPPU WILDLIFE RESERVE
AREA (175 SQ. KMS.)

LOCATION:
Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve lies on the flood plains of the Sapta-Koshi in Saptari and Sunsari Districts of Eastern Nepal. The reserve is defined by the eastern and western embankments of the river.

FEATURES:
Rapid and complete inundation of the reserve to depths ranging from 10 to 300 cm occurs during the monsoon. The Sapta - Koshi River also changes its course from one season to another.

The vegetation is mainly tall khar pater grassland with few patches of khair-sisso scrub forest and deciduous mixed riverine forest. The reserve offers important habitat for a variety of wildlife. The last surviving populations (about 100) of wild buffalo or arna are found here. Other mammals are the hog deer, wild boar, spotted deer, and the blue bull.

The reserve also assists the local economy by providing fishing permits and allowing the collection of edible fruits and ferns in season. A total of 280 different species of birds have been recorded in the reserve. These include 20 species of ducks, two species of ibises, many storks, egrets, herons and the endangered swamp partridge and Bengal florican.

The Koshi Barrage is extremely important as resting place for migratory birds. Many species recorded here are not seen elsewhere in Nepal. The endangered ghariel crocodile and Gangetic dolphin have been recorded in the Koshi River.

ROYAL SHUKLAPHANTA WILDLIFE RESERVE
AREA (305 SQ. KMS)

LOCATION:
The Royal Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve is situated in the southern part of Far-Western Nepal in Kanchanpur District.

FEATURES:
Predominant sal associated with asana, simal, karma, khair and sisso are found along the river side. Main grass species of the phantas are Imperata cylindrical and Saccharun heteropogon, used extensively by the local people for thatching.

The reserve provides prime habitat for swamp deer. An estimated population of 2,000 to 2,500 of this species is found in the reserve. Other wild animals in the reserve are the wild elephant, tiger, hispid hare, blue bull, leopard, chital, hog deer, and the wild boar.

A total of 200 species of birds have been recorded in the reserve. Many grassland birds along with the rare Bengal florican can be seen in the phantas. Marsh mugger, Indian python, monitor lizard and snakes like cobra, krait, and rat snakes are recorded in the reserve.

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