Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
| Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve | |
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IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
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View of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
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| Location | Nepal |
| Nearest city | Inaruwa |
| Coordinates | 26°39′N 87°0′E / 26.650°N 87.000°ECoordinates: 26°39′N 87°0′E / 26.650°N 87.000°E |
| Area | 175 km2 (68 sq mi) |
| Established | 1976 |
| Governing body | Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation |
| Official name | Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve |
| Designated | 17 December 1987 |
The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is a protected area in the Terai of eastern Nepal covering 175 km2 (68 sq mi) of wetlands in the Sunsari, Saptari and Udayapur Districts. It comprises extensive mudflats, reed beds, and freshwater marshes in the floodplain of the Sapta Kosi River, and ranges in altitude from 75 to 81 m (246 to 266 ft). It was established in 1976 and designated as a Ramsar site in December 1987.
It can be accessed from the Mahendra Highway.
During 1997 to 1998, an interview survey was conducted in the Paschim Kasuha VDC adjacent to the east of the reserve to investigate the extent of park–people conflict. The findings showed that wild water buffalo and wild boar were major crop raiders between September and February. Large numbers of cattle were found grazing freely inside the reserve. Local people are responsible for illegal utilization of forest products, poaching and river fishing inside the reserve.
In 2005, the reserve together with the Koshi Barrage was identified as one of 27 Important Bird Areas of Nepal.
The vegetation of the reserve is mainly characterised by mixed deciduous riverine forest, grasslands and marshy vegetation. The coverage of grasslands is 68%, compared to only about 6% of forest, which is predominated by Indian rosewood. Patches of catechu forest are more prevalent towards the northwestern part. The grasslands near the running water bodies are maintained by the annual flooding and grazing by wildlife. The Sapta Koshi River, a tributary of the Ganges, causes rapid and intense flooding during the rainy season. In the extensive wetlands, 514 plant species are found including kapok, sugarcane, reed, cattail, Imperata cylindrica, eel grass, and species of Eichhornia, Hydrilla, Azolla and lotus.
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