Wildlife Reserve in Nepal

Wildlife Reserve

Nepal is home to a wide variety of beautiful animals-many of which it shares with India. Visitors who spend some time near the edge of a forest or who go trekking through low-lying areas and valleys may be able to sight quite a few of these lovely creatures. If you do not enjoy trekking, you can usually organize a sagari ride through on of the many national parks in Nepal which will usually afford you the opportunity to see a variety of wildlife.

Some of the wildlife   in Nepal are some what restricted to certain areas and are on the endangered list due to indiscriminate poaching in times past. Nepal ‘s wildlife should always be treated with the utmost respect, remembering that these creatures are not only valuable to the environment but wild and sometimes dangerous.

Some of the largest animal varieties occur in the Tarai. Here you will find tigers, leopards, gaurs(wild ox), elephants, buffalo and a variety of deer. The deer commonly found here are chital(aka axis), sambar  and swamp deer. If you journey to south-central Nepal, you must spend time in the Lesser Rapti Valley. This is one of the last homes of the great Indian rhinoceros which is one of the countries endangered species.

Despite forest clearing which has taken place in the central zone, you will still find a few wild animals living here. These include leopards and a variety of small carnivores. This is also the home of a small kind of barking deer known as “muntjacs”. If you head up even higher, you will find musk deer, tahr(beardless wild goat), goral(a relative of the rocky mountain goat) and wild sheep. If you are lucky, you may spot a wolf or a snow leopard. The Sherpa claim that the higher snowy regions are inhabited by the Yeti but don’t expect to see him during your visit. The most common birds in the region are pheasant and the most popular fish is the mahseer which can be used for food.

Clearly, Nepal is home to a stunning variety of creatures both big and small. You may find that you will not be able to view many of these creatures in their natural habitat anywhere else in the world and the experience of witnessing them in the wild can be truly memorable. Make an effort to see some of  Nepal ‘a wildlife when you’re in the country-its an opportunity that should not be missed

Parsa Wildlife Reserve

Parsa Wildlife Reserve (499 sq km)

Parsa Wildlife Reserve is a protected area located in the southern part of Nepal. It covers an area of 499 square kilometers and is situated in the Terai region, which is characterized by its lowland forests, grasslands, and wetlands.

The reserve is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including tigers, leopards, elephants, sloth bears, wild boars, and several species of deer. It is also a habitat for many bird species, including the endangered Bengal florican.

The reserve is managed by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and was established in 1984. It is adjacent to the Chitwan National Park and the Barandabhar Corridor, forming an important ecological corridor for wildlife in the region.

Visitors to the Parsa Wildlife Reserve can enjoy a variety of activities, including jungle safaris, birdwatching, and nature walks. There are several accommodation options available, ranging from basic lodges to luxury resorts.

Activites : Jungle safari on elephant-back, Jungle walk, jeep drive

Access: Fly to Simara from Kathmandu(15 Mins.) and then by road to the reserve headquarters (7 km), or overland from Kathmandu(150 km via Hetauda)

Best Season: Oct-Mar, Apr-Jun(hot, 30-35 degrees celsius)Jul-Sep(Monsoon)

Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve

Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (175 sq km)

The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve first came about in 1976, when it became apparent that there was a great need to protect the beautiful but rare water buffalo, resident of the waters along the eastern border of Bangladesh. Later in 1987 it was declared a Ramsar site.

The Nepali reserve is positioned on 175 square kilometers of lavish wetland provided by the one-kilometer long barrage set along the Koshi River. An immense area of arable land surrounded by the many marshes, mudflats, lagoons and barrage contributes this vast amount of swampland to a great extent, resulting in one of the most beautiful bird sanctuaries in all of Asia. The best time to catch sightings of the immense collection of local and migratory birds along the barrage and the many river channels is during the months of October through to March.

It has to be said that one of the most exhilarating ways to explore the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is on one of the numerous nature ‘walks’. Nothing can prepare your senses for what they experience as you make your way through the thick fragrant grasslands, by passing the many tranquil waters of the vast array of river lagoons and its many remarkable wooded forests that surround the area. As you gaze about you it is evident that the reserve seems to be protected by the majestic Himalayan peaks, which range to the fifth highest mountain in the entire world, Makalu (8,463 meters).

The Koshi Tappu Reserve is an exciting alternative to the many other wildlife sanctuaries surrounding the area such as the Royal Bardiya National Park and the Royal Chitwan National Park. It is also ideal for breaking your journey especially for those adventurous mountaineers or trekkers who are making their way or returning home from their Kanchenjunga and Arun / Makalu region in Nepal. However, it is greatly recommended that you stay at least two nights to appreciate the many wonders of the reserve.

If you are seeking to find a place to relax and enjoy nature at its best Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is ideal. There are three main ways to access the Reserve. Arriving by air will take approximately 45 minutes from Kathmandu to Biratnagar, giving you a wonderful birds eye view of the Park. Pnce you have landed it will still take about another hours drive to the main camp site. If you should decide to go by road, you will be taken along an unusually windy road for about 500 km, from here you will have a splendid vantage point with scenic views lasting up to about 9 - 10 hours from the main point in Kathmandu. Lastly, you can choose to take an exciting 8 to 10 day trip down the Sun Koshi River, which will give you an unusual viewpoint and a direct route to Koshi Tappu Reserve

Activities: Game viewing, Bird watching

Access: Drive (40 km) from Biratnagar which is 50 minutes by air or 541 km by road from Kathmandu.

Accommodation: Resorts, Tented camp

Best Season: Oct-Mar;Apr-Jun(hot), Jul-Sep(rainy)

Shuklaphanta wildlife Reserve

Shuklaphanta wildlife Reserve(305 sq km)

Shuklaphanta wildlife Reserve is located in the far-eastern lowland Terai of Nepal. The pristine sub-tropical jungle makes Shuklaphanta  Nepal ‘second largest wildlife reserve in Terai. The open grasslands and numerous waterholes of the park extend into a vast expanse of plain grasslands and Sal forests, while marsh vegetation is found along rivers and lakes. The reserve that was originally a hunting area was later converted to wildlife reserve to protect swamp deer. There serve now shelters almost 2000 swamp deer, around 50 wild elephants and 30 tigers. Other animals found here are spotted deer, blue bulls, barking deer, hog deer, wild boars, leopards, jackals, langurs and rhesus monkeys. Among birds the reserve provides habitat to sarus crane, swamp francolin, grass owl, warblesrs, flycatchers, and the endangered Bengal Florican. Reptile species include marsh mugger, crocodile, cobra and python.

Activities: wildlife viewing on elephant-back

Accommodation: Jungle lodges

Access: Fly or drive to Mahendranagar(695 km from Kathmandu)

Best season: Feb-Mar(22-25 degrees Celsius); Dec-Jan(cold, foggy), Apr-Jun(hot, up to 42 degrees)