Bardiya National Park is one of the most pristine conservation areas in the Tarai and is home to the endangered Royal Bengal tiger and Nepal’s famous One-horned rhinoceros besides countless other mammals and reptiles. The park located in the far western district of Bardiya, is bordered by the Karnali River in the west, the Churia range in the north, while the Babai River flows right through it.
The national park is covered in vast Sal and riverine forests and tall elephant grass, making it an ideal habitat for many kinds of animals that roam freely. The park hosts 30 species of mammals, more than 250 species of birds, and several varieties of reptiles. There are more sightings of tigers here than in other national parks which attracts visitors who come repeatedly to catch a glimpse of the elusive cat.
Some of the other animals found here are elephants, swamp deer, blackbuck, gharials and marsh-muggers. The exotic Gangetic dolphin is also sometimes seen along the surface of the Karnali. Birds found here include endangered species like the Bengal florican, lesser florican, silver-eared mesia and the sarus crane.
