BARDIA
NATIONAL PARK
Situated in
the mid far western Terai, in a remote part of Nepal, bordered
by the Karnali River, the National Park covers 968 sq. km. It
is 585 km from Kathmandu. The park is the largest and most
undisturbed expanse of wilderness in southern Nepal. Although
the largest park it is least explored by foreign
tourists.
About 70% of the park is covered
with Sal jungle, the remaining 30% is a mixture of grassland,
savannah and riverine forest. The park contains eight types of
ecosystem. The park headquarters are situated at Thakurdwara
(also the location of Forest Hideaway) and is surrounded by
idyllic villages and fields inhabited by an indigenous ethnic
group, the ‘Tharu’.
Originally a hunting
reserve, Bardia became a conservation area in 1976 and then
attained National Park status in 1988. Presently a plan is
being considered to further expand the park both north and
eastwards. Conservation is a strong theme within Bardia; the
park as well providing a home habitat for many species also
provides an ideal environment for the study of wildlife. The
WWF and the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation are
active in the park monitoring wildlife and breeding habitats.
They have also implemented an educational scheme for local
people identifying the meaning of, and need for
conservation.
More than thirty different
mammals, over two hundred species of bird and many snakes,
lizards and fish have been recorded within the park. Both
resident and migratory birds can be found within the park
boundaries. As well as the numerous more common animals and
birds the Bardia National Park is home to 19 of Nepal’s
39 legally protected species. These include the One-horned
Rhinoceros, wild Asian Elephant, Bengali Tiger, Swamp Deer,
Black Buck Antelope, Gangetic Dolphin and Gharial Crocodile.
Endangered birds include the Bengal Florican, the Silver-eared
Mesia and the Sarus Crane. In fact the WWF indicated the
Bardia National Park as playing a major role in the survival
of the world tiger population. As a result, it is not
surprising to find that Bardia provides the best opportunity
to view the Bengal Tiger in
Nepal.
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