Birding in Royal Bardiya National Park

ROYAL BARDIYA NATIONAL PARK

Area: 968 sq. km.
Established: First gazetted in 1976 and further extended in 1984.

LOCATION:
Royal Bardiya National Park is situated in the mid-Far Western Terai, east of the Karnali River.

FEATURES:
The park is the largest and most undisturbed wilderness area in the Terai. About 70% of the park is covered with dominantly sal forest with the balance a mixture of grassland, savanna and riverine forest. The approximately 1500 people who lived 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, gharial 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.

Amir Shrestha
source: http://birding.about.com