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KOSHI TAPPU WILDLIFE RESERVE
AREA (175 SQ. KMS.)
Location:
Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve lies on the flood plains of the Sapta-Koshi in Saptari and Sunsari Districts of Eastern Nepal. The reserve is defined by the eastern and western embankments of the river.
Features:
Rapid and complete inundation of the reserve to depths ranging from 10 to
300 cm occurs during the monsoon. The Sapta-Koshi river also changes its course
from one season to another.
The vegetation is mainly tall kharpater grassland with a few patches of
khair-sissoo scrub forest and deciduous mixed riverine forest. The reserve
offers important habitat for a variety of wildlife. The last surviving
population (about 100) of wild buffalo or arna are found here. Other mammals are
the hog deer, wild boar, spotted deer, and the blue bull.
The reserve also assists the local economy by providing fishing permits and
allowing the collection of edible fruits and ferns in season.
A total of 280 different species of birds have been recorded in the reserve.
These include 20 species of ducks, two species of ibises, many storks, egrets,
herons and the endangered swamp partridge and Bengal florican. The Koshi Barrage
is extremely important as a resting place for migratory birds. Many species
recorded here are not seen elsewhere in Nepal. The endangered gharial crocodile
and Gangetic dolphin have been recorded in the Koshi River. |
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