04-22 Chitwan 2

One horned rhino with calf

22.04.18, Chitwan National Park 2

On this second day on a jeep safari and we saw 5 separate rhinos including one with a young one. They feed on the long grass which is quite lush at this time. Otherwise we saw a few langur monkeys and some axis deer. Just before returning to the lodge we were surprised by a wild pig.

Chitwan National Park is situated in south central Nepal in the subtropical lowlands of the inner Terai region. The altitude ranges from 110m to 850m above sea level. The park is bounded by the Rapti and Narayani rivers in the North, Parsa Wildlife Reserve in the East and the India border in the South. Being the first protected area of Nepal, it has a long history of over three decades in park management and much experience of nature conservation.

In the past Chitwan was a big game area for the royal families, Rana rulers and their guests. The area comprising the Tikauli forest from Rapti River to the foothills of the Mahabharat extending over an area of 175 km2 was declared as Mahendra Deer Park in 1959. The area south of the Rapti River was demarcated as a Rhino Sanctuary in 1963. It was proclaimed as Royal Chitwan National Park with an area of 932 km2 in 1973. After the peoples’ revolution in 2006, the park’s name was changed to Chitwan National Park.In recognition of its unique biological resources of outstanding universal value, UNESCO designated CNP as a World Heritage Site in 1984.

A total of68 species of mammals, 56 species of Amphibians and Reptilies, 544 species of birds and 126 species of fish have been recorded in the park. The park is especially renowned for its protection of One Horned Rhinoceros, Royal Bengal Tiger and Gharial Crocodile. It harbours not only the world’s largest terrestrial mammal (wild elephant) but also the world’s smallest terrestrial mammal (pygmy shrew).

The park and the local people jointly initiate community development activities and manage natural resources. The government of Nepal has made a provision of ploughing back 30-50 percent of the park revenue for community development in the buffer zone.

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