The Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve is a protected area in the Terai of the Far-Western Region, Nepal, covering 305 km2 (118 sq mi) of open grassland, forests, riverbeds and tropical wetlands at an altitude of 174 to 1,386 metres (571 to 4,547 ft). It was gazetted in 1976 as Royal Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve. A small part of the reserve extends north of the East-West Highway to create a corridor for seasonal migration of wildlife into the Sivalik Hills. The Syali River forms the eastern boundary southward to the international border with India, which demarcates the reserve’s southern and western boundary.
The Indian Tiger Reserve Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary is contiguous in the south; this coherent protected area of 439 km2 (169 sq mi) represents the Tiger Conservation Unit (TCU) Sukla Phanta-Kishanpur, which covers a 1.897 km2 (0.732 sq mi) block of alluvial grasslands and subtropical moist deciduous forests.
The protected area is part of the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands ecoregion and is one of the best-conserved examples of floodplain grassland.[ It is included in the Terai Arc Landscape.
The wildlife reserve is situated in the Kanchanpur district the extreme southwest of Nepal. The name of the reserve is derived from the largest of there grasslands, which is known as Sukla Phat. The reserve area is 305 sq.kms. The reserve shares a common boundary with the Indian State of Utter Pradeshin the South and west which is formed by the Mahakali river. The aquatic and terrestrial habitats of Shuklaphata Wildlife Reserve contain more than 665 plant species belonging to 438 genera and 118 families , which make Shuklaphata Wildlife Reserve as the highest species richness area, reported for any given protected areas in Terai. Of these, 2 species are endangered, 2 commercially threatened, 2 vulnerable, 1 rare and 1 insufficiently known .
FAUNA
The extensive open grasslands and wetlands around the lakes of the reserve are habitat for a wide range of fauna. In the rivers, lakes and ponds 28 fish species and 12 reptile and amphibian species were recorded. These include mahseer and rohu, mugger crocodile, Indian rock python, monitor lizard, Indian cobra, common krait and Oriental ratsnake.
HISTORY
The area was a favorite hunting ground for Nepal's ruling class and was declared a Royal Hunting Reserve in 1969. In 1973 the area was gazetted as Royal Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve, initially comprising 155 km2 (60 sq mi), and extended to its present size in the late 1980s. A buffer zone of 243.5 km2 (94.0 sq mi) was added in May 2004.
The name Suklaphanta was derived from one of the grasslands found inside the reserve. The main grassland called Sukla Phanta is the largest patch of continuous grassland in Nepal covering an area of about 16 km2 (6.2 sq mi).
The jungles of the Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve were once the site of an ancient kingdom. To this day, ruins of that kingdom can be seen in some places. Near Rani Tal, a lake in the reserve, there still remains a brick girdle, measuring 1,500 m (59,000 in) in circumference. It is considered by locals to be a remnant of the fort of Tharu king Singpal.
Deciduous riverine forest:-This forest type occurs in those areas subjected to annual flooding or elevated river floodplain. Broadly, six forest types occur in the Reserve.
a) Trewia Forest:- Trewia nudiflora forests are found in the riversides, islands and the areas with the better soil moisture. The canopy height of this forest type is between 16 – 30 m. The coverage varies in different forest from 20% to 80%. The other associates of this forest type are Ehretia laevis, Syzygium cumini, Acacia catechu and Mallotus philippensis.
b) Syzygium Forest :- In some moist areas, patches of Syzygium forest are found forming canopy at 18 – 20 m. The other scattered associates of this vegetation type are Mallotus philippensis, Ficus racemosa, Trewia nudiflora, Ehretia laevis and Acacia catechu.
c) Mallotus Forest:- Areas close to rivers and other water-bodies, are dominated by Mallotus philippensis with canopy height of 15 m. Other associates of this forest type are Bauhinia malabarica, Cleistocalyx operculatus, Acacia catechu and Careya arborea. Very scattered Bombax ceiba trees are found in this vegetation type.
d) Bet Forest:- The Calamus tenius, locally known as bet ghari, forms the shrub layer but dominates the vegetation. The bet canopy is formed at 6 m height because they climb trees and reach their canopy.
e) Sisso Forest:- In riverine areas, Sisso forest forms its canopy at 20 m and dominated by Dalbergia sisoo. The other scattered species are Acacia catechu, Aegle marmelos, Trewia nudiflora, Mallotus philippensis and Adina cordifolia.
f) Khair Forest:- Sandy areas, and river banks are dominated by Acacia catechu with a height of 20 m. Other associates of this vegetation type are Ehretia laevis, Mallotus philippensis, bodar, Butea monosperma, Trewia nudiflora, Syzygium cumini and Toona ciliata.
Climate
The climate of the region is subtropical monsoonal with mean annual rainfall of 1,579 mm (62.2 in) that occurs from June to September and is highest in August. The winter months of December and January are fairly cold with daytime temperatures of 7–12 °C (45–54 °F) and occasional frost. From February onwards temperatures rise up to 25 °C (77 °F) in March and reach 42 °C (108 °F) by end of April. When the first pre-monsoon rains reach the area in May, humidity increases.
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