Bardiya National Park

Bardiya National Park is the biggest proof that Nepal is much more than mountains alone. Besides the high peaks of the Himalayas, Nepal also has lush jungles full of wildlife.

Bardiya National Park was established in 1988 and is the largest protected area in Nepal’s Terai. Together with the neighboring Banke National Park, represents the Tiger Conservation Unit (TCU) Bardia-Banke, a vast extension of alluvial grasslands and subtropical moist deciduous forests home of the emblematic Bengal tiger.

Many efforts have been made in cooperation with international organizations to protect this endangered species that finds here one of the largest refuges in Asia and whose population is envisioned to double by 2022. The park is also home to many other endangered species such as the wild Asian elephant or the great one-horned rhinoceros along with 50 other mammal species and 400 of birds. Bardia National Park is firmly committed to preserve this wildlife and their habitat.

Feature:

1. Altitude ranges from 152m to 1445 m
2. About 70% of the park is covered with forest, with the balance a mixture of grassland, savannah and riverine forest.
3. 839 species of flora, including 173 vascular plant species, 30 species of mammals, 407 species of birds and several species of snakes, lizard and fishes.

Details

KEY FACTS

1. The Bengal Tiger, about 70 in the park. Bardia is probably the easiest place in the world to see a real wild tiger in its environment. The king of the jungle!
2. TheLeopard, hard to say how many, for sure more than tigers, although they are harder to see. The elusive one!
3. TheAsian Elephant, the most dangerous and aggressive animal in the area. They actually roam freely between other regions, and India. Sometimes they attack villages and make victims. Better watch from a safe distance, and if they come for you, back off. The not so kind giant!
4. TheOne Horned Rhino, 35 in total in the park, some taken from Chitwan to try and increase their population. Beautiful animal! I saw some from very close and some others fleeing from tiger’s full speed. The quick one when it needs to be!
5. Five type of deer, in order of size from the smallest to the biggest: The Barking dear, the Hog Dear, the Spotted Deer, the Sambar Deer, and the Swamp Deer. There’s quite a big population of these elegant animals, and they are relatively easy to see. The lifeblood of Bardia!
6. TheSloth Bear, not easy to see, and when you do, they might be aggressive. But they are there. somewhere. The black ghost!
7. ThePangolin, what can I say: how cool would be to see a freaking Pangolin!? Unfortunately, not easy at all, but one never knows. The legend of P!
8. StripedHyenas, Leopard Cats, Fishing Cats, Jungle Cats, Jackals… they are all there with some other felines and canines. The night crawlers!
9. Langur Monkey andMacaque, both quite easy to see, they’re the first to flee at danger, from the high branches of the trees where they reside. They are also the ones, along with deer, to give signals about the presence of predators, for those who know how to listen to this type of conversation. The constant protectors!