Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve

Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)

View of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve

Location in Nepal

Location Nepal
Nearest city Inaruwa
Coordinates 26°39′N 87°0′E / 26.650°N 87.000°E / 26.650; 87.000Coordinates: 26°39′N 87°0′E / 26.650°N 87.000°E / 26.650; 87.000
Area 175 km2 (68 sq mi)
Established 1976
Governing body Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation
Official name Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
Designated 17 December 1987[1]

The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is a protected area in the Terai of eastern Nepal covering 175 km2 (68 sq mi) of wetlands in the Sunsari, Saptari and Udayapur Districts. It comprises extensive mudflats, reed beds, and freshwater marshes in the floodplain of the Sapta Kosi River, and ranges in altitude from 75 to 81 m (246 to 266 ft). It was established in 1976 and designated as a Ramsar site in December 1987.[2]

It can be accessed from the Mahendra Highway.

History

During 1997 to 1998, an interview survey was conducted in the Paschim Kasuha VDC adjacent to the east of the reserve to investigate the extent of park–people conflict. The findings showed that wild water buffalo and wild boar were major crop raiders between September and February. Large numbers of cattle were found grazing freely inside the reserve. Local people are responsible for illegal utilization of forest products, poaching and river fishing inside the reserve.[3]

In 2005, the reserve together with the Koshi Barrage was identified as one of 27 Important Bird Areas of Nepal.[4]

Vegetation

The vegetation of the reserve is mainly characterised by mixed deciduous riverine forest, grasslands and marshy vegetation. The coverage of grasslands is 68%, compared to only about 6% of forest, which is predominated by Indian rosewood. Patches of catechu forest are more prevalent towards the northwestern part. The grasslands near the running water bodies are maintained by the annual flooding and grazing by wildlife.[5] The Sapta Koshi River, a tributary of the Ganges, causes rapid and intense flooding during the rainy season. In the extensive wetlands, 514 plant species are found including kapok, sugarcane, reed, cattail, Imperata cylindrica, eel grass, and species of Eichhornia, Hydrilla, Azolla and lotus.[2]

Fauna

A wide range of animals inhabit the protected area. In its water courses and ponds, 200 species of fish have been recorded, most of which are resident. Two toad species, nine frog species, six lizard species, five snake species and eleven turtle species are recorded.[2] Gharial and mugger crocodile occur as well.[5]

Mammals

The 31 species of mammals recorded include the Asian elephant, spotted deer, hog deer, wild pig, smooth-coated otter and golden jackal. The Ganges river dolphin has been sighted in the Koshi River. Gaur and blue bull have declined in numbers.[2] Nepal’s last remaining population of about 150 wild water buffalo inhabit the area.[5] This small population has now grown to 327 individuals according to the latest 2014 census conducted in the area.[6]

Birds

Notable among the 485 bird species are watercock, Indian nightjar, dusky eagleowl, black-headed cuckooshrike, whitetailed stonechat, striated grassbird, large adjutant stork, Pallas’s fish eagle, common golden-eye, and gullbilled tern.[2] Swamp francolin and Nepal rufous-vented prinia occur as well.[5]

In spring 2011, 17 Bengal floricans were recorded from nine different sites along a 39 km (24 mi) north-south stretch of the Koshi River. Seven were males and 10 were females. Only five individuals were recorded outside the reserve, two pairs north of Koshi Tappu, and one female seen twice near the Koshi Barrage area.[7]

References

  1. ↑ GoN/MoFSC (2014). Nepal Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2014-2020. Government of Nepal, Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation, Kathmandu, Nepal
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Bhuju, U. R., Shakya, P. R., Basnet, T. B., Shrestha, S. (2007). Nepal Biodiversity Resource Book. Protected Areas, Ramsar Sites, and World Heritage Sites. International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, in cooperation with United Nations Environment Programme, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. Kathmandu, Nepal. ISBN 978-92-9115-033-5
  3. ↑ Limbu, K. P., Karki, T. B. (2003). Park–people Conflict in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve. Our Nature (2003) 1: 15–18.
  4. ↑ Baral, H. S. and C. Inskipp (2005). Important Bird Areas in Nepal: Key Sites for Conservation. Bird Conservation Nepal, Kathmandu and BirdLife International, Cambridge
  5. 1 2 3 4 Karki, J. B. (2008). Koshi Tappu Ramsar Site: Updates on Ramsar Information Sheet on Wetlands. The Initiation 2 (1): 10–16.
  6. ↑ Gorkhapatraonline (2014) . Kathmandu, Nepal
  7. ↑ Baral, H. S., Ram, A. K., Chaudhary, B., Basnet, S., Chaudhary, H., Giri, T. R. and D. Chaudhary (2012). Conservation status of Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis bengalensis (Gmelin, 1789) (Gruiformes: Otididae) in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and adjoining areas, eastern Nepal. Journal of Threatened Taxa 4(3): 2464–2469.

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