Royal
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. Greater One-horned Rhinoceros were translocated from Royal Chitwan
National Park in 1986, 1991, and 1999.
Fauna in Bardia National Park
What makes a visit to Nepal's Royal Bardia National Park particularly special
is not just its large and intact habitat area and its isolated location, but
also the presence here of one of the last known herds of wild Elephants in South
Asia. The herd, numbering less than two dozen, roams these remote jungles in
western Nepal.
Bardia also boasts the greatest number of deer species in Nepal. The six deer
species found in the park are: Chital or spotted Deer with its ubiquitous white
spots on a brown coat; Hog Deer; similar to but smaller than Chital; Sambhar,
the largest Deer on Indian subcontinent with a shaggy coat and thick antlers;
Swamp Deer; Barasingha; and reddish-colored Barking Deer, the park's smallest
Deer.
Other large mammals are: Gaur, the largest wild oxen in world; wild Boar, an
omnivorous black-coated creature with large tusks; the agile sloth Bear, a shaggy
black bear with a distinctive white "V" on its chest; Blue Bull or
Nilgai, the largest Antelope on the Indian subcontinent; and Himalayan Tahr.
Serow
and Goral, two goat-Antelope members, are also found. Small mammals include:
Langur Monkey, Rhesus Macaque, Jackal, three species of cats (jungle, leopard,
and fishing); yellow-throated Marten; Mongoose; and Indian Otter.
Two species of crocodiles swim in the Karnali, Girwa, and Babai Rivers - the
blunt-snouted Marsh Mugger and the fish-eating gharial with its long thin snout.
These creatures share the water with the fresh-water Gangetic Dolphin. The Karnali
also supports the great mahseer, which weigh up to 90 lbs, an angler's prize
catch.
Birds are the park's most conspicuous fauna with over 300 resident and migratory
species. Avid bird-watchers will want to visit the park in November or from
February to April when migrants arrive, depart or pass through.
How to Get there
Air & Road: To reach Bardia, take the daily air flight or public bus from
Kathmandu to napalgunj, from where it is a five hour drive to the park office
at Thakurdwara. This nature sanctuary is best visit from October to April.
