The Bardia National Park is the largest park in the lowlands of Terai and covers an area of 968 sq. kms. The park, situated in Nepal’s Western Terai, was established to protect the representative ecosystems and to conserve the Tigers and its prey species. Initially, a small area was gazetted as the Royal Karnali Wildlife Reserve in 1976. When this area was protected, approximately 1500 people of the Babai valley were resettled outside the park and this allowed the vegetation and wildlife to flourish. In 1982, it was renamed Royal Bardia Wildlife Reserve and in 1984 it was extended to its current size. The reserve was given the status of a National Park in 1988. Greater one-horned Rhinoceros were trans-located from the Chitwan National Park in 1986, 1991 and 1999. The park was renamed Bardia National Park following the declaration of Nepal as a Republic country.
Fauna in Bardia National Park
The large and intact habitat area and the isolated location of Nepal’s Bardia National park is not the only reason that makes the visit to the park particularly special. The other main reason to visit this park is the presence of one of the last known herds of wild Elephants in South Asia. The herd, numbering less than two dozen, roams these remote jungles in western Nepal.
Bardia also boasts the greatest number of Deer species in Nepal. The six different types of Deer species found in the park are: Chital or spotted Deer with its ubiquitous white spots on a brown coat; Hog Deer- similar to but smaller than Chital; Sambhar- the largest Deer on the Indian subcontinent with a shaggy coat and thick antlers; Swamp Deer; Barasingha; and a reddish-colored Barking Deer- the park’s smallest Deer.
Other large mammals found in the park are: Gaur- the largest wild Oxen in world; wild Boar- an omnivorous black-coated creature with large tusks; the agile sloth Bear- a shaggy black bear with a distinctive white ‘V’ on its chest; Blue Bull or Nilgai- the largest antelope on the Indian subcontinent and the Himalayan Thar. Two goat-antelope members including Serow and Goral are also found here. Small mammals found in the park includes: Langur Monkey, Rhesus Macaque, Jackal, three species of Cats (jungle, Leopard, and fishing); yellow-throated Marten; Mongoose and Indian Otter.
In addition, two species of Crocodiles swim in the Karnali, Girwa and Babai Rivers - the blunt-snouted Marsh Mugger and the fish-eating Gharial Crocodile with its long thin snout. These creatures share the water with fresh-water gangetic Dolphins. The Karnali River also supports the great Mahseer, which weighs up to 90 lbs, an angler’s prize catch.
Birds are the park’s most conspicuous fauna with over 300 resident and migratory species. Avid bird-watchers will want to visit the park in November or from February to April when migrant birds arrive, depart or pass through the park.
How to get there
Air & Road: To reach Bardia, take the daily flight or public transport from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj. From Nepalgunj, it is a five hours drive to the park office located at Thakurdwara. The best time to visit this nature sanctuary is from October to April.
