| Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve | |
|---|---|
| कोशी टप्पु वन्यजन्तु आरक्ष | |
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
 Koshi River | |
   | |
| Location | Nepal |
| Nearest city | Inaruwa |
| Coordinates | 26°39′N87°0′E / 26.650°N 87.000°E /26.650; 87.000 |
| Area | 176 km2 (68 sq mi) |
| Established | 1976 |
| Governing body | Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (Nepal) |
| Website | https://dnpwc.gov.np/ |
| Official name | Koshi Tappu |
| Designated | 17 December 1987 |
| Reference no. | 380[1] |
 Map | |
TheKoshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is a protected area in theTerai of eastern Nepal covering 176 km2 (68 sq mi) ofwetlands in theSunsari,Saptari andUdayapur Districts. It comprises extensivereed beds andfreshwater marshes in thefloodplain of theKosi River, and ranges in elevation from 75 to 81 m (246 to 266 ft). It was established in 1976 and designated as aRamsar site in December 1987. It hosts Nepal's last remaining herd of thewild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee).[2]
During 1997 to 1998, an interview survey was conducted in thePaschim KasuhaVDC adjacent to the east of the reserve to investigate the extent of park–people conflict. The findings showed thatwild water buffalo and wild boar were major crop raiders between September and February. Large numbers ofcattle 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 theKoshi Barrage was identified as one of 27Important Bird Areas of Nepal.[4]
The vegetation of the reserve is mainly characterised by mixeddeciduous riverine forest, grasslands and marshy vegetation. The coverage of grasslands is 68%, compared to only about 6% of forest, which is predominated byIndian rosewood. Patches ofcatechu 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] TheSapta Koshi River, a tributary of theGanges, causes rapid and intense flooding during therainy season. In the extensive wetlands, 514 plant species are found includingkapok,sugarcane,reed,cattail,Imperata cylindrica,eel grass, and species ofEichhornia,Hydrilla,Azolla andlotus.[2]
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. Twotoad species, ninefrog species, sixlizard species, fivesnake species and eleventurtle species are recorded.[2]Gharial andmugger crocodile occur as well.[5]
The 31 species ofmammals recorded include theAsian elephant,spotted deer,hog deer,wild boar,smooth-coated otter andgolden jackal. TheGanges river dolphin has been sighted in the Koshi River.Gaur andnilgai have declined in numbers.[2] Nepal’s last remaining population of about 150wild water buffalo inhabit the area.[5] This population has now grown to a total of 432 individuals with an annual growth rate of 7.27 percent, according to the latest census carried out in 2016.[6] With this upsurge in the population, authorities are planning a possible transfer of some wild water buffaloes to the flood plains ofChitwan National Park where they have been extirpated in the 1950s.[7]
Notable among the 485 bird species arewatercock,Indian nightjar,dusky eagleowl,black-headed cuckooshrike,whitetailed stonechat,striated grassbird,large adjutant stork,Pallas’s fish eagle,common golden-eye, andgullbilled tern.[2]Swamp francolin andrufous-vented grass babbler occur as well.[5]
In spring 2011, 17Bengal floricans were recorded from nine different sites along a 39 km (24 mi) north-south stretch of theKoshi 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 theKoshi Barrage area.[8]
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| Wildlife reserves | ||
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| Hunting reserves | ||
| Ramsar sites | ||
Koshi Province articles | ||
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Capital:Biratnagar | ||
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