Protected areas and buffer zones in Western Terai Landscape Complex

Bardia National Park

Bardia National Park is the largest park in the lowland Terai covering an area of 968 sq. km. The park, situated in Nepal's western Terai, was established to protect representative ecosystems and conserve tiger and its prey species. Initially, a small area was gazetted as the Royal Karnali Wildlife Reserve in 1976. When this area was protected, approximately 1500 people of the Babai valley were resettled outside the park allowing the vegetation and wildlife to flourish. In 1982, it was renamed as Royal Bardia Wildlife Reserve, and in 1984 it was extended to its current size. The Reserve was given the status of a national park in 1988.

The park offers a variety of experiences in its vast undisturbed wilderness. About 70% of the forest consists of Sal trees with a mixture of grassland and riverine forests. The park is home to endangered animals such as Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, greater one-horned rhinoceros, swamp deer, and black buck. The other endangered species include gharial crocodile, marsh mugger and gangetic dolphin. Endangered birds found in the park are Bengal florican, lesser florican and sarus crane. More than 30 different mammals, over 400 species of birds and several species of snakes, lizard and fish have been recorded in the park. In addition to the resident species, several migratory birds visit the park.

In 1997, an area of 327 sq. km surrounding the park was declared as a buffer zone that consists of forests and private lands. The national park authorities and local communities jointly manage the buffer zone. Together, they have initiated several community development activities and managed natural resources in the buffer zone.

Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve

Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve is located in the far-western Terai on the southwest edge of Nepal covering an area of 305 sq. km. The Reserve was established in 1976 to protect Nepal’s last remaining herd of Swamp deer.

Forests, streams and rivers, lakes and several large Phantas (grasslands), for which the Reserve is named, comprise the habitat of the Reserve. It has the highest density of tiger in the world and the world’s largest populations of swamp deer. The Reserve is also home to blue bull, barking deer, hog deer, wild boar, leopard, jackals, langur and rhesus monkey. It provides habitat for about 350 species of birds and 21 species of fish. It also houses a diverse population of reptiles like the marsh mugger, cobra and python. Prominent wetlands are Rani Taal, Sikari Taal, Tarapunal and Kalikitch.

The buffer zone area of Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve covers about 153 sq. km.