Western Terai Arc
Facts and figures for the local pachyderms
Background
The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) as well as the Greater one horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) are found in the western terai landscape. There are 77 Greater one-horned rhinoceros in Royal Bardia National Park (RBNP) 4 in Royal Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve (RSWR), including 3 rhinos translocated in November 2000. Asian elephants in this region are mainly concentrated on the Indian side of the landscape.
Wild elephants within Nepal are mostly migratory animals with around 12 to 18 elephants reported annually in the Far Western Churia Foothills. These numbers have remained constant since 1993 it is a decrease from the late 1970's when they averaged between 25 to 30 animals (Petra report 1999).
A total of 45-50 elephants currently reside in RBNP and have been there since 1994 when herds moved from Dudhwa to Shuklaphants and then along the Churia hills to Bardia.
Wild elephants within Nepal are mostly migratory animals with around 12 to 18 elephants reported annually in the Far Western Churia Foothills. These numbers have remained constant since 1993 it is a decrease from the late 1970's when they averaged between 25 to 30 animals (Petra report 1999).
A total of 45-50 elephants currently reside in RBNP and have been there since 1994 when herds moved from Dudhwa to Shuklaphants and then along the Churia hills to Bardia.
WWF on the ground
Objectives
- Control the steady increase of human disturbances along the Churia Foothill forests and the diminishing elephant habitat and range in this region
- Identify and protect areas of the proposed corridors that are under immediate threat
- Establish corridors between protected areas and existing habitats
- Establishm an integrated conservation and development program (ICDP)
