• Jun 13, 2019
  • Rubi Bhandari

Table of Contents

Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve is most accessible reserve that is located in the Far-Western Region of Nepal. It is popular for protecting and inhabiting threatened species of this planet—Royal Bengal Tiger and One-Horned Rhino. The site is also famed for Swamp Deer. A large number of Swamp Deer moving in herds attracts many tourists here every year.

The reserve covers 305 square kilometer area of grasslands, forests and riverbeds. The altitude of the site ranges from 174m to 1386 m from sea level. Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary of India and Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve of Nepal jointly enveloping an area of 439 square kilometer is recognized as Tiger Conservation Unit.

As per the recent study, more than 700 species of plants are found here. Similarly, the reserve inhabits more than 400 species of birds, 46 species of mammals, 12 species of reptiles and amphibians and 28 species of fishes.

Bengal floricans, swamp francolin, Jerdon's bushchat, rufous-rumped grassbird, chestnut-capped babbler and Jerdon's babbler, yellow-eyed babbler, Finn's weaver and Hodgson's bushchat are found in the park. Similarly, spot-bellied eagle owl, dusky eagle owl, rufous-bellied eagle and Oriental pied hornbill, great slaty woodpecker, white-naped woodpecker, white-rumped vulture, slender-billed vulture, lesser adjutant, grey-headed fish eagle, darter, rufous-rumped grassbird are also witnessed in the park.

Moreover, sarus crane, painted stork and bristled grassbird are visitor birds that migrate here during summer. On the other hand, greater racquet-tailed drongo, white-capped water redstart, rusty-tailed flycatcher and rufous-gorgeted flycatcher are rare winter visitors.