Archive for the ‘Wildlife’ Category
June 15th, 2009
- Asian Elephant
TARAHARA FOREST (CHARKOSE JHADI)
The tropical evergreen forest of tarahara covers an area of about 50, 000 ha and is unprotected. This forest has been handed to the local people. It is located at the altitude of about 100-1300 above the sea level. It lies between Dharan and Itahari. It is estimated that the large number of 350 bird species occurs in this forest, but still it is not fixed. The globally threatened Lesser Adjutant Stork, White-rumped and Slender-billed Vultures are some of the bird species found in this area. There are large areas of tropical forest which are suitable for the habitation of different species of birds and animals.
Besides birds, Tarahara forest is also the habitation of different types of wild animals. Wild animals like Bengal fox, Hanuman Langur, Wild Boar, Chital, Black Giant Squirrel and Indian Hare are found here. Sometimes Asian Elephant also visits this forest from India.
Tarahara forest has been handed to the local people to manage as a community forest. This forest is used by the local people for cutting of trees, cattle grazing, collection of timbers for firewood, collection of several plant species are ongoing. There is an uncontrolled livestock grazing. If such activities are not stopped immediately, Nepal may lose many valuable timber species, birds species, wild animals and many other valuable things. This is only the place in Nepal where healthy Black Giant Squirrel survives. Therefore, illegal activities like hunting should be stopped. There is an urgent need for Nepal government to declare this area protected and make a good use of it.
The above picture of Asian Elephant was shot at Tarahara Forest.
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June 9th, 2009
Map of Koshi Tappu
Map of Koshi Tappu WildLife Reserve,which helps to locate the location of Koshi Tappu.
June 3rd, 2009
- Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
Koshi Tappu WildLife Reserve: protected, Koshi Barrage: unprotected, Koshi wetlands is the first Ramsar Site of Nepal.
Altitude: 75-81m
Area: Koshi Tappu 17,500ha, Koshi Barrage 3,500ha
Koshi Tappu 26 35’N 87 05’E and Koshi Barrage 26 36’N 87 03’E
Sunsari of Koshi Zone and Saptari and Udaypur districts of Sagarmatha Zone.
Categories: Globally threatened species, Indo-Malayan Tropical Dry Zone biome species, Indo-Gangetic Plain biome species, congregations
Site Description
Koshi Tappu WildLife Reserve covers an area of 17,500ha of the Sapta Koshi River floodplain at the most northeasterly extension of the Gangetic Plain. It ranges in altitude from 75-81m.This reserve is located between two flood control embankments and is subject to annual flooding Approximately 70% of the reserve’s land area is covered in grasslands, although during high flood years a large area of grassland is destroyed and replaced by new alluvial deposits.Typha and Saccharum are major grassland types found here, although patches of Imperata and Phragmites are often seen. Mostly young trees grow inside and on the edges of the reserve within embankments, the old mature trees being swept away by annual flood.
South of Koshi Tappu WildLife Reserve lies the Koshi Barrage area. The area is 7km from north to south and nearly 5km from east to west. More than 50% of the land area at the barrage is covered by water, and the remaining land area is subject to intensive agriculture. The barrage gates are regulated by the Indian Government according to a 99-year lease agreement between Nepal and India.
Other Wildlife
The reserve contains Nepal’s last population of Asian Buffalo Bubalus bubalis, a globally threatened species .Other globally threatened species include Ganges River Dolphin Platanista gangetica, Nilgai Boselaphus tragocamelus, Smooth-coated Otter Lutrogale perspicillata, Gharial Gavialis gangeticus and Mugger Crocodile Crocodylus plastids.
Conservation issues
Koshi Tappu is protected as a Ramsar Site for its importance for migrating wildfowl, the first Ramsar Site established in Nepal. In spite of this ,the reserve faces severe problems .Koshi’s wetland habitats are threatened by the large population of subsistence farmers and fishermen living in close proximity to the reserve .Illegal grazing by domestic animals, fodder collection, hunting, illegal fishing, disturbance of nesting and feeding area,poisoning that not only kills fish, but also bird that feed on fish and aquatic insects,have together resulted in the deterioration and loss of suitable habitats for birds and other wildlife.