The park supports exceptionally diverse wildlife
populations. It harbors a total of 53 species
of mammals, ca400 species of avifauna, 25 species
of reptiles and amphibians and 121 species of
fishes. Major findings of the bio-diversity inventory
are presented separately in Basnet (1995). Checklists
of mammals, birds, amphibians/reptiles and flora
are presented in Annexes.
Several wildlife species found in the park
are listed as protected species according to
wildlife and conservation act 1973. The protected
mammals in the park include tiger Panther tigris
tigris, one - horned rhinocers Rhinoceros unicornis,
Asiatic wild elephant Elephas maximus, swamp
deer cervus duvauceli duvauceli, Gangetic dolphin
Platanista gangetica, striped hyaena Hyaena
hyaena, four horned antelope Tetraceros quardricornis
and Chinese pangolin Manis pentadactyla. Similarly,
the protected birds recorded in the park are
Giant Hornbill Buceros bicornis, Black Stork
Ciconia nigra, Sarus Crane Grus antigone, Bengal
Flerican Eupodtis bengalensis, and Lesser Florican
Sypheotides indica. Gharial gangeticus and phyton
molurus are reptiles in the similar category.
In addition, large population of spotted deer,
hogs deer, barking deer and wild boar together
with avian - herpeto fauna and invertebrates
enrich the biological diversity of the park.
As a part of species conservation, 58 greater
one-horned rhinoceros were translocated (1986-13,1991-25,1999-4and
2000-16) from Chitwan National Park and released
in Karnali and Babai river basins (Jnawali2000).
Current population of rhinoceros including 16
individuals released in 2000 is estimated at
73 .Of them, 41 are residing in Babai valley
and 32 in Geruwa floodplain.
Similarly, tigers occupy floodplainsof geruwa,
Orai and Babai as well as sal forest between
Geruma River and foothill of Siwalik rang of
East West Highway. The tiger population in the
park is estimated at about ca 50 breeding adults.
Elephant population in the park consists of
both migratory and resident individuals. Elephant
population until 1992 was estimated at only
2 males roaming in the southwestern section
of the park. Size of elephant population was
increased as 23 individuals migrated during
1993/94 dry season. Later in 1999 the number
of wild elephant in Bardia was found to be above
40 individuals. The only wild population of
black buck (ca 45 individuals) survives at Khairapur
(out sides the park), ca 40 km southeast from
the park Headquarters. Himalayan black bear
(Selenarctos thibetanus) was recorded for the
first time in Babai valley during dry season,
2000 .Sloth bear (Ursus mekursus) are found
in some areas and a small population of bluebull
(Boselaphus tragocamelus) is found in southern
part of the park.