Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve,Nepal

                                  Sunsari,Nepal

The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is a protected area in the Terai of eastern Nepal covering 175 km2 (68 sq mi) of wetlands in the Sunsari, Saptari and Udayapur Districts. It comprises extensive mudflats, reed beds, and freshwater marshes in the floodplain of the Sapta Kosi River, and ranges in altitude from 75 to 81 m (246 to 266 ft). It was established in 1976 and designated as a Ramsar site in December 1987During 1997 to 1998, an interview survey was conducted in the Paschim Kasuha VDC adjacent to the east of the reserve to investigate the extent of park–people conflict. The findings showed that wild water buffalo and wild boar were major crop raiders between September and February. Large numbers of cattle were found grazing freely inside the reserve. Local people are
responsible for illegal utilization of forest products, poaching and river fishing inside the reserve.

In 2005, the reserve together with the Koshi Barrage was identified as one of 27 Important Bird Areas of Nepal.The vegetation of the reserve is mainly characterised by mixed deciduous riverine forest, grasslands and marshy vegetation. The coverage of grasslands is 68%, compared to only about 6% of forest, which is predominated by Sisso. Patches of Khair forest are more prevalent towards the northwestern part. The grasslands near the running water bodies are maintained by the annual flooding and grazing by wildlife.The Sapta Koshi River, a tributary of the Ganges, causes rapid and intense flooding during the rainy season. In the extensive wetlands, 514 plant species are found including Kapok, sugarcane, reed, Cattail, Imperata cylindrica, eel grass, and species of Eichornia, Hydrilla, Azolla and Lotus.

The mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris = "crocodile of the marsh"),

also called the Indian, Indus, Persian, marsh crocodile or simply mugger, is found throughout the Indian subcontinent and the surrounding countries. It is one of the threecrocodilians found in India, the others being the gharial and the saltwater crocodile.It is a medium sized crocodile that mostly inhabits freshwater lakes, ponds, sluggishrivers, swamps and marshes. Males of the species may grow 4 m (13 ft) to 4.5 m (15 ft) in length, but rarely exceed 3.7 m (12 ft). As with other crocodilians, females are smaller.The mugger crocodile has the broadest snout of any extant crocodile, giving it an alligator-like appearance. It is a more heavily armored species with enlargedscutes around the neck. Adults are dark grey or brown, while hatchlings are tan colored.
The mugger crocodile is a skilled predator that preys on a variety of species. Like other crocodilians they are ambush hunters and wait for their prey to come close. They wait camouflaged in the murky waters to launch the attack in the suitable moment. They mostly prey on fish, reptiles, birds and mammals. Reproduction takes place in winter months. Females lay eggs in nests that are holes dug in the sand. Temperature duringincubation is the determinant of sex in the young. The mugger crocodile possesses the size to be a serious threat to humans but are not as aggressive as some other species, such as the sympatric saltwater crocodiles. They are also observed to usually avoid areas with saltwater crocodiles.Mugge.

Koshi Tappu wildlife reserve (KTWR)  is famous for large remnant population wild water buffalo in Nepal and large variety of birds. Wild buffalo is the ancestor of the domestic water buffalo. Asiatic buffalo is chiefly a grazer, feeding in the morning and evenings and lying up in dense cover or submerging in wallows in midday.  The study "Status, distribution, threat and habitat pattern

assessment of Asiatic wild water buffalo in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve" was carried out with aiming to assess population size, threat and habitat pattern. Direct census (Block count) and water holes census method was used to assess the population size by sweeping whole reserve area and water holes. For habitat pattern and threat study forest inventory was carried out and for threat assessment semi structured interview was carried with local stakeholders (herders, cattle owner, political bodies and conservation partners).  The major population of wild buffalo is distributed in three isolated blocks Prakashpur, Haripur and Badgama (south duban island) and little population was in Bhagalpur blocks. The study shows population size was 237 wild buffalo in 2011 (Male 66, Female 117, first year calf 15, second year calf 39), Calf cow ratio is 0.33 and exponential growth rate is 0.097. The preferred habitat pattern used by Asiatic buffalo is sandy and open large Sacchrum grassland and riverine forest as well.