Parsa Wildlife Reserve
Encyclopedia
Parsa Wildlife Reserve is a protected area in the Inner Terai lowlands
of south-central Nepal
. Established in 1984, it covers an area of 499 km² (192.7 sq mi) in the Parsa
, Makwanpur
and Bara
districts and is the largest wildlife reserve in the country. In altitude it ranges from 435 metres (1,427.2 ft) to 950 metres (3,116.8 ft) in the Siwalik Hills
.
In the north of the protected area the Rapti River
and Siwalik Hills
form a natural boundary to human settlements. In the east it extends up to the Hetauda - Birgunj highway. In the south, a forest roads demarcates the boundary. Adjacent to the west is Chitwan National Park. Together with the Indian Tiger Reserve Valmiki National Park
, the coherent protected area of 2075 km² (801.2 sq mi) represents the Tiger
Conservation Unit (TCU) Chitwan-Parsa-Valmiki, which covers a 3549 km² (1,370.3 sq mi) block of alluvial grasslands and subtropical moist deciduous forests.
Before being converted to a protected area, the region used to be the hunting ground of the ruling class.
grows in the Churia Hills. Khair
, Sissoo
and Silk cotton tree
s occur along watercourses. Sabai grass
grows well on the southern face of the Churia hills.
An estimated 919 species of flora have been recorded including 298 vascular plant
s, 234 dicots, 58 monocots, five pteridophytes, and one gymnosperm
.
s. A survey combined with extensive camera-trapping
conducted in 2008 estimated four adult Bengal tiger
s resident in the reserve.
Inner Terai Valleys of Nepal
The Inner Terai Valleys or Bhitri tarai are various elongated valleys in Nepal situated between the Himalayan foothills, the 600–900 m high Siwalik or Churia Range and the 2,000-3,000 m high Mahabharat Range further north. Major examples are the Chitwan Valley southwest of Kathmandu and the...
of south-central Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
. Established in 1984, it covers an area of 499 km² (192.7 sq mi) in the Parsa
Parsa District
-Village Development Committees :*Alau*Amarpatti*Auraha*Bagahi*Bagbana*Bageswori*Bahauri Pidari*Bahurbamatha*Basadilwa*Basantpur*Belwa Parsouni*Beriya Birta*Bhawanipur*Bhedihari*Bhisawa*Bijbaniya*Bindabasini*Biranchibarba*Birganj...
, Makwanpur
Makwanpur District
Makwanpur District of 392,604. Bhimfedi market of the district was the traditional route to enter Kathmandu valley from the south.-Village Development Committees :*Agara*Ambhanjyang*Bajrabarahi*Basamadi*Betini*Bhaise*Bharta Pundyadevi*Bhimfedi...
and Bara
Bara District
Bara District of 559,135. Pasaha, Dudhaura and Bangari are the main rivers of Bara. Gamahariya is one of the villages of Bara District which is situated near the border area of India....
districts and is the largest wildlife reserve in the country. In altitude it ranges from 435 metres (1,427.2 ft) to 950 metres (3,116.8 ft) in the Siwalik Hills
Siwalik Hills
The Sivalik hills is a mountain range of the outer Himalayas also known as Manak Parbat in ancient times. Shivalik literally means 'tresses of Shiva’. This range is about long enclosing an area that starts almost from the Indus and ends close to the Brahmaputra, with a gap of about between the...
.
In the north of the protected area the Rapti River
East Rapti River
East Rapti River, a small river draining the Chitwan valley in Nepal, flowing west to join the Narayani River a short distance north of the Indian border....
and Siwalik Hills
Siwalik Hills
The Sivalik hills is a mountain range of the outer Himalayas also known as Manak Parbat in ancient times. Shivalik literally means 'tresses of Shiva’. This range is about long enclosing an area that starts almost from the Indus and ends close to the Brahmaputra, with a gap of about between the...
form a natural boundary to human settlements. In the east it extends up to the Hetauda - Birgunj highway. In the south, a forest roads demarcates the boundary. Adjacent to the west is Chitwan National Park. Together with the Indian Tiger Reserve Valmiki National Park
Valmiki National Park
Valmiki National Park is located in the West Champaran district of Bihar, India. The extensive forest area of Valmikinagar was owned by the Bettiah Raj and Ramanagar Raj until early 1950s...
, the coherent protected area of 2075 km² (801.2 sq mi) represents the Tiger
Bengal Tiger
The Bengal tiger is a tiger subspecies native to the Indian subcontinent that in 2010 has been classified as endangered by IUCN...
Conservation Unit (TCU) Chitwan-Parsa-Valmiki, which covers a 3549 km² (1,370.3 sq mi) block of alluvial grasslands and subtropical moist deciduous forests.
Before being converted to a protected area, the region used to be the hunting ground of the ruling class.
Vegetation
The typical vegetation of the park is tropical and subtropical forest types with Sal forest constituting about 90% of the vegetation. Chir pineChir Pine
The Chir Pine, Pinus roxburghii, named after William Roxburgh, is a pine native to the Himalaya.The range extends from northern Pakistan , across northern India and Nepal to Bhutan.It generally occurs at lower altitudes than other pines in the Himalaya, from...
grows in the Churia Hills. Khair
Acacia catechu
Acacia catechu also commonly called Mimosa catechu, is a deciduous, thorny tree which grows up to in height. The plant is called khair in Hindi, and kachu in Malay, hence the name was Latinized to "catechu" in Linnaean taxonomy, as the type-species from which the extracts cutch and catechu are...
, Sissoo
Dalbergia sissoo
Dalbergia sissoo, known as Shisham, is an erect deciduous tree, native to the Indian Subcontinent. It is also called sissoo, sisu, sheesham, tahli and sometimes referred to as Indian Rosewood. It is state tree of Punjab state and provincial tree of Punjab province...
and Silk cotton tree
Bombax ceiba
Bombax ceiba, like other trees of the genus Bombax, is commonly known as cotton tree or tree cotton. This tropical tree has a straight tall trunk and its leaves are deciduous in winter. Red flowers with 5 petals appear in the spring before the new foliage. It produces a capsule which, when ripe,...
s occur along watercourses. Sabai grass
Eulaliopsis
Eulaliopsis is a genus of grass in the Poaceae family.- External links :*...
grows well on the southern face of the Churia hills.
An estimated 919 species of flora have been recorded including 298 vascular plant
Vascular plant
Vascular plants are those plants that have lignified tissues for conducting water, minerals, and photosynthetic products through the plant. Vascular plants include the clubmosses, Equisetum, ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms...
s, 234 dicots, 58 monocots, five pteridophytes, and one gymnosperm
Gymnosperm
The gymnosperms are a group of seed-bearing plants that includes conifers, cycads, Ginkgo, and Gnetales. The term "gymnosperm" comes from the Greek word gymnospermos , meaning "naked seeds", after the unenclosed condition of their seeds...
.
Fauna
In May 2008, a census conducted in the reserve confirmed the presence of 37 gaurGaur
The gaur , also called Indian bison, is a large bovine native to South Asia and Southeast Asia. The species is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986 as the population decline in parts of the species' range is likely to be well over 70% over the last three generations...
s. A survey combined with extensive camera-trapping
Camera trap
A camera trap is a remotely activated camera that is equipped with a motion sensor or an infrared sensor, or uses a light beam as a trigger. Camera trapping is a method for capturing wild animals on film when researchers are not present, and has been used in ecological research for decades...
conducted in 2008 estimated four adult Bengal tiger
Bengal Tiger
The Bengal tiger is a tiger subspecies native to the Indian subcontinent that in 2010 has been classified as endangered by IUCN...
s resident in the reserve.