ROYAL SHUKLAPHANTA WILDLIFE RESERVE AREA (305 SA. KMS.)

Location:

The Royal Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve is situated in the southern part of Far-Western Nepal in Kanchanpur District.

Features:

Predominant sal associated with asna, simal, karma, khair and sissoo are found along the riverside. Main grass species of the phantas are Imperate cylindrica and Saccharum heteropogon, used extensively by the local people for thatching.

The reserve provides prime habitat for swamp deer. An estimated population of 2,000 to 2,500 of this species is found in the reserve. Other wild animals in the reserve are the wild elephant, tiger, hispid hare, blue bull, leopard, chital, hog deer, and the wild boar. A total of 200 species of birds have been recorded in the reserve. Many grassland birds along with the rare Bengal florican can be seen in the phantas. Marsh mugger, Indian python, monitor lizard and snakes like cobra, krait, and rat snakes are recorded in the reserve.