Bardia National Park is the largest park in
the lowland Terai, covering an area of 968
sq. km. The park was established to protect
the ecosystems and conserve tiger and its prey
species.
What makes a visit to Nepal's Bardia National
Park particularly special is not just its
large and intact habitat area and its isolated
location, but also the presence of one of
the last known herds of wild Elephants in
South Asia.
Bardia also boasts of the greatest number
of deer species in Nepal. The six 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
Indian subcontinent with a shaggy coat and
thick antlers; Swamp Deer; Barasingha; and
reddish-colored Barking Deer, the park's
smallest Deer.
Other large mammals 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 Himalayan
Tahr. Serow and Goral, two goat-Antelope
members, are also found. Small mammals include:
Langur monkey, Rhesus Macaque, and jackal,
three species of cats (jungle, leopard, and
fishing); yellow-throated Marten; Mongoose;
and Indian Otter.
Two species of crocodiles swim in the Karnali,
Girwa, and Babai Rivers - the blunt-snouted
Marsh Mugger and the fish-eating gharial
with its long thin snout. These creatures
share the water with the fresh-water Gangetic
Dolphin. The Karnali also supports the great
mahseer, which weigh 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 can visit the park in
November or from February to April when migrants
arrive, depart or pass through.
