Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
Sunsari, Nepal- 0 reviews
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About
In order to preserve the last remaining population of Wild Water Buffalo (Bubalus arnee), sometimes referred to as Arna locally, Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve was created in 1976. It encompasses the districts of Sunsari, Saptari, and Udayapur in the eastern Terai area and is located on the floodplain of the Sapta Koshi river. With an area of 175 km2, it is Nepal's only wildlife reserve. The reserve is delineated by the eastern and western afflux bunds of the Sapta Koshi River. On December 17, 1987, Koshi Tappu was designated as Nepal's first Ramsar site in order to conserve and sustainably use its wetlands.
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A 173 km buffer zone was established in 2004 around the reserve, which included 4 municipalities and 1 rural municipality from the districts of Sunsari, Saptari, and Udaypur. The local population and the reserve management worked together to maintain the natural resources in the buffer zone and launch community development and conservation initiatives. The National Parks and Wildlife protection Act of 1973 stipulates that 30 to 50 percent of the reserve's income must go towards buffer zone protection and community development.
Seasonally flooded grasslands and savannah, tallreed stands, submerged and floating aquatic plants, and structurally complex forest communities in a range of spatial patterns make up the current vegetation. Among the 514 plant species, common species in wetlands include Dalbergia sissoo, Bombyx ceiba, Saccharum spp., Phragmites spp., Typha spp., Imperata spp., Valisneria spp., Eichornia spp., Hydrilla spp., Azolla spp., and Nelumbo spp. Rauwolfia serpentina, Alstonia scholoris, Oroxylum indicum, Acacia catechu, Butea monosperma, and Dalbergia latifolia are the six plant species that are classified in the IUCN and CITES appendices, respectively, under the various threatened categories.
The primary protected species in KTWR are Platanista gangetica (dolphin), Elephus maximus (wild elephant), and Bubalus arnee (wild water buffalo, known locally as Arna). The number of KTWR's most common species, the Wild Water Buffalo, has grown from 63 in 1976 to 441 in 2018. Common mammals include the jackal (Canis aureus), fishing cat (Felis viverrina), jungle cat (F. chaus), hog deer (Axis porcinus), spotted deer (Axis axis), and wild boar (Sus scrofa). Gallicrex cinerea, Caprimulgus asiaticus, Bubo coromandus, Coracina melanoptera, Saxicola leucura, and Megalurus palustris are among the 527 bird species that have been observed in the location. The bird that is only observed inside the boundaries of KTWR is the rufous vented prinia (Prinia burnesii nepalensis).
Abbott's babbler and water cock (Gallicrex cinerea) are found in this region of Nepal. Twelve of these 526 bird species are threatened worldwide, while 101 are threatened domestically.Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve reflects nature connection with the biodiversity and species of the wildlife connecting humans with the wonders of the world in diverse manner.