Bardiya-Banke National Parks, Nepal
OVERVIEW
In the heart of Nepal’s Terai, where golden grasslands meet shadowed forests, lie the wild sanctuaries of Bardiya and Banke National Parks. Here, the roar of the royal Bengal tiger echoes through the trees, and the mighty one-horned rhino treads ancient paths. These parks, spanning over 1,500 square kilometers, are lifelines for endangered species and vital corridors in the Western Terai Complex. As rivers flow and the seasons shift, the parks weave a delicate tapestry of life, connecting species, sustaining traditions, and fostering harmony between nature and people in Nepal’s rich and fragile wilderness.
Global Conservation is collaborating with the Nepal Tiger Trust to protect this vulnerable landscape.
SIZE
560,000 Hectares
GOAL
$640,000
VISITORS BY 2030
32,000
Introduction
Bardiya and Banke National Parks, located in the lowland Terai region of western Nepal, are key conservation areas forming part of the Western Terai Complex (WTC). Together, these parks cover over 1,500 square kilometers and are critical habitats for endangered species, including the Royal Bengal Tiger, One-horned Rhinoceros, and Asian Elephant. Their role in connecting wildlife populations across the region makes them essential to biodiversity conservation in Nepal.
Bardiya National Park, established in 1988, is the largest national park in Nepal’s Terai, spanning about 968 square kilometers. The park’s diverse ecosystems, including sal forests, grasslands, and riverine habitats, support a wide range of wildlife. Bardiya has seen remarkable success in tiger and rhino conservation, now holding Nepal's second-largest tiger population. The park is also home to a significant number of One-horned Rhinos, which were reintroduced as part of a national species recovery effort. The Karnali River along the park's boundary supports aquatic life, such as the endangered Gharial crocodile, while Bardiya’s wetlands and forests are important for birdlife.
Banke National Park, established in 2010, covers 550 square kilometers and was created to enhance tiger conservation, aiming to double Nepal’s tiger population by 2022. Located next to Bardiya, Banke’s forests and grasslands provide key corridors for wildlife movement within the WTC, ensuring genetic diversity and long-term survival for wide-ranging species like tigers and elephants.
Both parks play a crucial role in the Western Terai Complex, a cross-border conservation landscape connecting habitats in Nepal and India. This connectivity allows species to move freely in search of resources, essential for maintaining healthy populations. Bardiya and Banke National Parks are vital not only for protecting wildlife but also for promoting ecotourism and supporting local livelihoods, contributing to the long-term conservation of Nepal’s natural heritage.
Cultural History
Bardiya and Banke National Parks are not only ecological treasures but also hold deep cultural significance for the local Tharu community, who have lived in the Terai for centuries. The Tharu people have developed a close relationship with the forests and rivers, relying on them for sustenance and weaving them into their cultural practices. Traditional farming, fishing, and foraging have shaped their way of life. Over time, the parks' surrounding areas became focal points for conservation efforts, while the local communities adapted, playing an integral role in protecting the wildlife and balancing their own livelihoods with the preservation of natural heritage.
Natural Heritage
Bardiya and Banke National Parks are biodiversity hotspots, home to some of Asia's most iconic wildlife. Bardiya, the larger of the two, boasts extensive sal forests, grasslands, and riverine habitats, supporting species like the royal bengal tiger, one-horned rhinoceros, and Asian elephant. Banke, a critical wildlife corridor, links with Bardiya to form the Banke-Bardiya Complex, enhancing species movement. The parks' diverse ecosystems also host leopards, sloth bears, and a variety of bird species. These protected areas are crucial for conserving Nepal's lowland wildlife and maintaining ecological connectivity in the Western Terai Complex.
Bardiya National Park holds the second-largest tiger and rhino populations in all of Nepal.
Threats to Bardiya-Banke National Park
Bardiya and Banke face a range of pressing threats that challenge the protection of their remarkable wildlife. Poaching remains a persistent danger, targeting the iconic royal bengal tigers, one-horned rhinos, and Asian elephants. Despite robust anti-poaching efforts, organized poaching networks, drawn by the lucrative illegal wildlife trade, continue to infiltrate these parks, putting these endangered species at risk.
Habitat loss and fragmentation also threaten the future of these parks. As agriculture expands and illegal logging encroaches on protected areas, the once vast, unbroken forests that sustain wildlife are shrinking. Roads and other infrastructure developments further carve up the landscape, making it harder for wide-ranging species like tigers and elephants to roam freely in search of food and territory.
Another significant issue is the rising human-wildlife conflict, particularly as conservation successes lead to growing animal populations. As tigers and elephants expand their ranges, they increasingly come into contact with local communities, often with devastating consequences. Tigers may prey on livestock, while elephants can trample crops and homes. In response, some villagers resort to retaliatory killings, creating a tense struggle between the need for wildlife protection and the survival of local livelihoods. The Khata Wildlife Corridor, a critical link between Bardiya and India, has become a flashpoint for these conflicts, with both human and animal casualties.
Human-Tiger Conflict
Rising tiger populations, driven by successful conservation efforts, have led to increased human-wildlife conflict, resulting in over 30 human fatalities in the last five years.
Global Conservation, in partnership with the Ministry of Nepal Forestry, funded a study in the Khata Wildlife Corridor, a key area for human-wildlife conflict outside Bardiya National Park. This corridor, used by tigers and elephants moving between Nepal and India, has seen numerous deaths in nearby villages over the past five years.
To address this, Global Conservation is working to secure funding for reforestation, relocate affected communities, and establish a safe wildlife corridor between Nepal and India.
Banke National Park was established in 2010 following the government's commitment to double the country’s tigers by 2022. The national tiger survey in 2018 showed a 100% increase in the tiger population in the Bardiya-Banke from 54 in 2013 to 108 in 2018.
Saving Bardiya-Banke
Global Conservation (GC) is working with the Nepal Tiger Trust to protect the critically endangered species in Nepal’s Bardiya and Banke National Parks, home to Royal Bengal Tigers, One-horned Rhinos, and Asian Elephants. These parks face significant poaching threats despite numerous conservation efforts. To address these threats, GC is deploying advanced surveillance systems (including drones, cellular trail cameras, and satellite monitoring) and supporting community-based wildlife protection programs.
GC's previous collaboration with ZSL Nepal resulted in a formal $400,000 project over five years, focusing on real-time surveillance, rapid-response teams, and long-range patrolling. In 2022 alone, several poachers were arrested, indicating ongoing poaching activities. GC continues to strengthen wildlife protection through technology and community engagement.
In addition to these efforts, new AI-driven image recognition software is being introduced to analyze trail camera photos in real-time, enhancing the identification and capture of poachers. GC’s contributions are also improving ranger capabilities, expanding patrol coverage, and supporting anti-poaching units in the parks.
GC, along with the Nepal Tiger Trust and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, works to strengthen law enforcement and conduct regular monitoring in the protected areas. The GC-funded initiatives also address human-wildlife conflict, particularly in the Khata Wildlife Corridor, where efforts are being made to mitigate conflict and protect both wildlife and local communities.
GC’s ongoing work in Bardiya and Banke aims to reduce poaching, enhance surveillance, and promote human-wildlife coexistence through technology and community involvement, contributing to the recovery of key species in these national parks.
Our Objectives:
Enhance illegal wildlife crime control mechanisms through the use of advanced conservation technology.
Improve communication, coordination, and collaboration among relevant agencies for effective protection and conservation of wildlife.
Deploy Global Park Defense, a multi-year method to achieve “No Cut, No Kill” protection and financial sustainability for continued preservation.
Work with local communities and local stakeholders to deploy Community Protection.
Critical Initiatives
SMART Ranger Patrols
Our partners are providing wildlife anti-poaching training, equipment, rations and technical support to Bardiya and Banke National Park rangers to implement SMART patrols and the use of EarthRanger, increasing coverage, accountability and interdictions of illegal activities.
Establish a Community Forest Guard Program
To promote community engagement in conservation efforts and increase the effectiveness of anti-poaching efforts, our partners are developing a training program and recruiting local forest guards to conduct regular patrols. The guards will engage with local communities to build trust and promote sustainable conservation efforts.
Reduce Human-Tiger Conflict
Key measures include enhanced tiger monitoring, early warning systems, improved livestock protection, and creating alternative livelihoods for former poachers through tourism and related services.
Conclusion
Bardiya and Banke National Parks are vital to the conservation of Nepal’s iconic wildlife and the broader Western Terai Complex. These parks protect critical populations of endangered species, including royal bengal tigers, one-horned rhinos, and Asian elephants, while also providing essential ecological connectivity across Nepal and India.
However, the parks face persistent threats from poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict. Global Conservation, in partnership with the Nepal Tiger Trust, is working to combat these challenges through advanced surveillance technology, community engagement, and strengthened anti-poaching efforts. By enhancing protection and promoting coexistence, these initiatives aim to secure a future where wildlife and local communities thrive together.
Global Conservation initiatives rely on your generosity and commitment, please join us: your contributions fund essential operations like anti-poaching patrols, wildlife rehabilitation, and community outreach programs. Join us in this vital mission — act now to preserve Bardiya-Banke and make a lasting impact.
Partners in Conservation
Nepal Tiger Trust is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of the endangered royal bengal tiger and its habitat in Nepal. Established with the mission to protect tigers through research, education, and community involvement, the trust plays a vital role in promoting sustainable conservation practices. By working closely with local communities, government agencies, and conservation partners, Nepal Tiger Trust focuses on reducing human-wildlife conflict, preventing poaching, and preserving critical tiger habitats. Through these efforts, the organization contributes to safeguarding Nepal’s tiger population and ensuring the long-term survival of this iconic species.
Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation of Nepal
The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) was established in 1980 to conserve and manage the wildlife and biodiversity of the country. Nepal has a very good network of protected areas covering 23.39% of the total country's land, which contribute to in-situ conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity across the country.
The National Trust for Nature Conservation
The National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), established in 1982 by a Legislative Act, is an autonomous and not-for-profit organization mandated to work in the field of nature conservation in Nepal. Over the past decades, NTNC has successfully undertaken more than three hundred small and large projects on nature and biodiversity conservation, clean energy and climate change, as well as cultural heritage protection, ecotourism, and sustainable development through active engagement of local communities. NTNC works closely with the Government of Nepal in the management of protected areas by directly managing three mountain protected areas and assisting the government in all the low land parks.