Area : 968 sq. km.
Established : First gazetted in 1976
and further extended in 1984.
Location :
Royal Bardiya National Park is situated
in the mid-Far Western Terai, east of the Karnali
River.
Feature :
The park is the largest and most undisturbed
wilderness area in the Terai. About 70% of the
park is covered with dominantly sal forest with
the balance a mixture of grassland, savanna
and riverine forest. The approximately 1500
people who lived in this valley have been resettled
elsewhere. Since farming has ceased in the Babai
Valley, natural vegetation is regenerating,
making it an area of prime habitat for wildlife.
The park provides excellent habitat for endangered
animals like the rhinoceros, wild elephant,
tiger, swamp deer, black buck, gharial crocodile,
marsh mugger crocodile and Gangetic dolphin.
Endangered birds include the Bengal florican,
lesser florican, silver-eared mesia and Sarus
crane. More than 30 different mammals, over
200 species of birds, and many snakes, lizards
and fish have been recorded in the park's forest,
grassland and river habitats. A good number
of resident and migratory birds are found in
the park.