| Nepal's first
and most famous national park is situated in the
central development region covering an area of 932
sq. km. This park includes hilly areas of the Silwalik
range covered by deciduous sal forest and carpeted
with grass, savannah and riverine vegetation. The
park, made up of the flood plains of the Narayani,
Rapti and Reu rivers, is home to more than 450 endangered
Asian one-horned rhinoceros and harbours one of
the largest population of the elusive and rare Royal
Bengal tiger. Besides rhinos and tigers there are
four species of deer, leopards, langurs, sloth bears,
wild boars, rhesus monkeys, wild dogs, white stocking
gaurs and many other smaller animals. Gharial and
Marsh mugger crocodiles cavort in the river water.
The unique birds which number over 450 species,
include cormorants, egrets, stork, geese, jungle
fowl, king fishers and endangered species such as
Bengal florician, Lesser florician, Brahmin, duck,
pintails, Indian pitta and parakeets. This makes
the park a true bird watchers' paradise.
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