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Valmiki Tiger Reserve, National Park and WLS [MAP]
Valmiki Tiger Reserve
Valmiki Tiger Reserve is located in West Champaran district, Bihar. Established in 1994, it spans 899.38 km2 and is the only tiger reserve in the state. Valmiki Tiger Reserve has a core area of 598 km2 and buffer area of 301 km2.
The terrain comprises forests, grasslands and wetlands. Valmiki Tiger Reserve was notified as Valmiki Wildlife Sanctuary in 1978 over 462 km2. In 1990, Valmiki National Park was constituted over 335 km2. Finally in 1994, it was designated the 18th tiger reserve under Project Tiger. Tiger numbers have increased 5-fold from 8 in 2010 to 54 in 2022 due to habitat management and anti-poaching efforts.
The J. Karki 2013 study “Estimating the abundance of Nepal’s largest population of tigers Panthera tigris” showed tigers present here uses the Churia range, which includes Valmiki Tiger Reserve of India, Chitwan National Park and Parsa Wildlife Reserve in Nepal as an important tiger corridor. Valmiki Tiger Reserve is also being assessed for reintroducing Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros. It represents a conservation success story for the Bengal tiger and other wildlife.
Valmiki Tiger Reserve Overview
Attribute | Information |
---|---|
Location | West Champaran district of Bihar, foothills of the Himalayas |
Area | 899.38 square kilometers |
Establishment History | Taken over by state government (1950-1955), Notified as Valmiki Wildlife Sanctuary (1978), Established as Valmiki National Park (1990), Declared as 18th Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger (1994) |
Significance | The only tiger reserve in Bihar |
Current Estimated Tiger Population | Around 54 (2022) |
Name Origin | Named after sage Valmiki, author of the Hindu epic Ramayana |
Geography and Terrain of Valmiki Tiger Reserve
Valmiki Tiger Reserve is located in the Terai foothills of the Himalayas in West Champaran district, Bihar. It spans 899 km2 between latitudes 27°10’N – 27°03’N and longitudes 83°50’E – 84°10’E. Valmiki Tiger Reserve shares an approximately 100 km forested boundary with Nepal’s Chitwan National Park to the north and is connected to Uttar Pradesh’s Sohagibarwa Wildlife Sanctuary. The Gandak river forms the western boundary. The terrain is undulating with rich alluvial soil. Rivers like Gandak, Masan and Pandai flow through Valmiki Tiger Reserve.
According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority the area comprises diverse habitats like riverine forests dominated by Shorea robusta, wetlands, alluvial grasslands and tropical moist deciduous forests. There is also the unique low altitude chir pine. These habitats make Valmiki Tiger Reserve home to varied floral and faunal diversity.
Valmiki Tiger Reserve Map
Flora and Fauna
- Sal forests, mixed vegetation
- Mammals – tiger, leopard, deer, gaur, elephants
- Reptiles – pythons, cobras
- Over 200 bird species
Flora in Valmiki Tiger Reserve
The forests of Valmiki Tiger Reserve are dominated by sal (Shorea robusta) along with mixed vegetation like rohini, sihor, Terminalia, khair and bamboo. The unique low altitude chir pine is also found in parts.
Dominating the vegetation in Valmiki Tiger Reserve are sal (Shorea robusta) forests, along with other tree species such as rohini, sihor, Terminalia, and Adina. The reserve’s diverse flora is supported by its location in the Terai belt and the varied habitats it encompasses.
In addition to sal forests, there are plantations of teak, bamboo, semal, and khair interspersed throughout the natural forests. The sub-mountainous regions also host piyal and mandar trees. Notably, parts of Raghia hills contain low altitude chir pine trees. Cane brakes of Calamus tenuis are extensive in the area while grasslands include species like Imperata cylindrica and Vetiveria zizanoides.
Fauna in Valmiki Tiger Reserve
As per the Bihar Government Tourism department, the fauna comprises apex predators like tigers, leopards, wild dogs; herbivores such as spotted deer, sambar, gaur, nilgai; sloth bear and rhesus macaques. Though elephants are not mentioned, other mammals like hog deer and barking deer inhabit the reserve. Reptiles found here include pythons, king cobra and common krait.
According to the WWF-India 2014 report. Over 200 bird species have been recorded in the reserve, including migratory birds in the wetlands along with endemic species like kaleej pheasant and Himalayan bulbul. The diverse habitats of riverine forests, wetlands and grasslands make Valmiki Tiger Reserve home to rich floral and faunal biodiversity.
Tiger Conservation Efforts
Valmiki Tiger Reserve has witnessed a remarkable 75% increase in tiger numbers from just 8 in 2010 to around 54 in 2022. As per the National Tiger Conservation Authority, this has been achieved through focused habitat management and anti-poaching efforts. Initiatives like weed removal, grassland improvement, soil-moisture conservation, strengthening of wireless patrolling and coordination with border forces have helped.
However, some challenges remain. With increased tiger density in a limited area of terai region as stated in “Status of Tigers and Prey in Nepal 2022” report, published by the Government of Nepal, territorial fights between big cats have escalated. The Valmiki tiger Reserve of terai region has also witnessed rising human-animal conflicts leading to loss of human lives. Further, lack of space is triggering tigers to move into nearby revenue lands in search of new territory. Long term planning is required to address these issues related to rising tiger numbers in Valmiki Tiger Reserve’s finite area.
Management Concerns
Key management concerns in Valmiki Tiger Reserve include its porous international boundary with Nepal making vigilance difficult as also stated by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
There is also intense biotic pressure on the habitat from about 140 fringe villages located just 2-3 km from the core area. Encroachment along borders remains an issue in Valmiki Tiger Reserve. Invasive weeds like dwarf Phoenix and heavy soil erosion from rivers flowing through pose conservation challenges. Locals dependence for fuelwood and grazing also impact forests.
Addressing these issues by involving local communities in protection initiatives is vital. Involving local communities in protection initiatives is vital for successful tiger conservation, as highlighted by the IUCN in its report “Community involvement: the key to successful Tiger conservation“.
Other concerns are strengthening wireless patrolling teams, habitat enrichment works and mitigating human-wildlife conflicts. Tackling biotic pressures, porosity of borders, soil erosion and weed invasion through an integrated habitat management plan can help Valmiki Tiger Reserve sustain tigers and biodiversity in the long run.
Future Plans
Valmiki Tiger Reserve has been selected as a potential site for reintroducing the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros under the National Rhino Conservation Scheme. As per the Bihar government, a Rhino Task Force is being constituted to assess feasibility and formulate strategy for the reintroduction.
The state plans to increase rhino-bearing areas in Valmiki Tiger Reserve by 5% over next two years by providing more space for them to breed. Additionally, there are plans to develop the 1,505 km2 Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary into another tiger reserve for the state. Setting up new tiger source sites and habitats like Kaimur would take off pressure from Valmiki Tiger Reserve while enriching biodiversity conservation. If successful, the rhino reintroduction and additional tiger reserve would make Bihar an important state for conserving endangered mega-herbivores and apex predators like tigers. It would also boost tourism potential around wildlife.