The Royal Bardiya
National Park covers 968 sq. km./ 363 sq.
mi. of the Terai in Nepal's far-West, and is
the largest and least-disturbed wilderness
area in the Terai. It provides an excellent
habitat for over 30 different mammal
species, including the endangered Royal
Bengal Tiger, One-horned Rhinoceros, Wild
Elephant, Swamp deer, and Black buck. The
Great One-horned Rhinoceros was successfully
reintroduced to Bardiya from Chitwan in
1986. Herds of elegant black buck in the
open grassland are a stirring sight unique
to Bardiya. Other common animals found in
the Park include the leopard and lesser
cats, the blue bull (Nilgai), several
species of deer, the langur and rhesus
monkeys, sloth bear, and the wild boar. The
open grasslands within the Park, locally
known as phantas, are ideal for game
viewing.
The Karnali, one of Nepal's largest rivers,
forms the western boundary of the park. The
endangered Gangetic dolphin is often seen in
its waters. Other endangered riverine
species include the fish-eating Gharial and
Marsh mugger crocodiles. The Karnali also
offers excellent fishing for masheer, a
large freshwater perch. Over 250 species of
birds have so far been recorded in the Park,
including the endangered Bengal and Lesser
Floricans, Silver-eared Mesia, and the Sarus
crane.
Royal Bardiya National Park is situated in
the mid far Western Terai,east of the
Karnali river.
