Koshi Tappu Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Convention)

Description

The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is a 175 km² of wildlife refuge and wetlands habitat established in 1976 located in Eastern Nepal. It can be accessed from the Mahendra Highway. The reserve currently has five elephants and is home to the water buffalo (called arna), deer, nilgai, mugger crocodile, Ganges River Dolphin (also called the Gangetic Dolphin), and more than 460 species of birds.

A study of the reserve was conducted between 1997 to 1998 by the Central Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu. The study found serious conflicts between the reserve wildlife and the local people living adjacent to the reserve. The people suffered crop depredations and animal harassment while the reserve managers had the problems of illegal poaching, cattle grazing, and other other illegal activities in the reserve. The study has several recommendations, one of which is the promotion of tourism to the area with the reserve using local tourist guides trained by wildlife experts.

In additional to wildlife, the Reserve also protects a substantial part of the Sapta Koshi, (a tributary of the Ganges River) flood plain. In 1987, it was declared a Ramsar site.