Terai-Duar Savannas and Grasslands
About the Area
Warm temperatures and moderately low rainfall prevail in the Terai-Duar savannas and grasslands, where grasses are abundant and trees are few.
These grasslands contain the world's tallest grasses and have the highest densities of tigers, rhinos, and ungulates anywhere in Asia.
The dominant grass of the floodplains Saccharum, or elephant grass, grows each year to heights over seven meters and supports a number of habitat specialists such as the Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris) and its prey base, the Chital (Axis axis).
Local Species
This grand ecoregion is home to an abundance of plants, birds, reptiles such as the Gharial crocodile (Gavialis gangeticus), and mammals including Tigers (Panthera tigris), Swamp deers or Barasinghas (Cervus duvauceli), Pygmy hog (Sus salvinius), and the greater one-horned Rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) - the largest species of rhino in Asia.
This ecoregion is home to three birds found nowhere else in the world - the Spiny babbler (Turdoides nipalensis), Grey-crowned prinia (Prinia cinereocapilla), and Manipur bush-quail (Perdicula manipurensis).
Other birds found here are the intermediate Egret (Mesophoyx intermedia), V.banded bay cuckoo (Cacomantis sonneratii), Coppersmith barbet (Megalaima haemacephala), and the Red-breasted flycatcher (Ficedula parva).
Threats
Poaching, overgrazing, clearing for cultivation, population growth, irrigation projects and water diversion are degrading oand destroying the grassland habitat and its wildlife.
Resources
The dominant grass of the floodplains Saccharum, or elephant grass, grows each year to heights over seven meters and supports a number of habitat specialists such as the Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris) and its prey base, the Chital (Axis axis).
Local Species
This grand ecoregion is home to an abundance of plants, birds, reptiles such as the Gharial crocodile (Gavialis gangeticus), and mammals including Tigers (Panthera tigris), Swamp deers or Barasinghas (Cervus duvauceli), Pygmy hog (Sus salvinius), and the greater one-horned Rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) - the largest species of rhino in Asia.
This ecoregion is home to three birds found nowhere else in the world - the Spiny babbler (Turdoides nipalensis), Grey-crowned prinia (Prinia cinereocapilla), and Manipur bush-quail (Perdicula manipurensis).
Other birds found here are the intermediate Egret (Mesophoyx intermedia), V.banded bay cuckoo (Cacomantis sonneratii), Coppersmith barbet (Megalaima haemacephala), and the Red-breasted flycatcher (Ficedula parva).
Threats
Poaching, overgrazing, clearing for cultivation, population growth, irrigation projects and water diversion are degrading oand destroying the grassland habitat and its wildlife.
Resources
Size:
34,500 sq. km (14,000 sq. miles)
Habitat type:
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands
Geographic Location:
Southern Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal
Conservation Status:
Critical/Endangered
34,500 sq. km (14,000 sq. miles)
Habitat type:
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands
Geographic Location:
Southern Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal
Conservation Status:
Critical/Endangered
Quiz Time!
How do banded bay cuckoos raise their young?
Answer:
Banded bay cuckoos don't build their own nests. Instead, they sneak their eggs into the nests of other birds and let them raise their young!
Answer:
Banded bay cuckoos don't build their own nests. Instead, they sneak their eggs into the nests of other birds and let them raise their young!
