Sukla Phanta National Park and Buffer Zone (14345)
Nepal, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2025
National site name: Sukla Phanta National Park and Buffer Zone
Central coordinates: Latitude: 28.8833, Longitude: 80.1833
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 175 to 1300
Area of KBA (km2): 398.90089
Protected area coverage (%): 99.56
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: ShNP shares a common boundary with India in the south and west which is formed by the Mahakali (Sarda) River, a major tributary of the Ganges. It is bordered on the eastern side by the Syali River and to the north by a forest belt and cultivations (DNPWC 2015) and Siwalik ridge. Beyond the southern boundary lies the Lagga Bagga protected forests in India (Adhikari 2003), which is now contiguous to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: A total of 465 species of birds have been recorded in ShNP. (Poudyal and Chaudhary 2019; Joshi et al 2024). A list of 423 species of birds of the park recorded until 2008 were recognized by Baral and Inskipp (2009); later, another checklist produced claimed of 424 species in the national park (Regmi and Acharya 2012). Because of increasing survey and coverage of the park area, a number of birds was added in following years. The number of bird species found in Shukla Phanta rose to 450 (Poudyal and Chaudhary 2019) and only in subsequent years to increase the number further by additional 15 species totalling to 465 (Joshi et al. in 2024). <div>Species recorded in ShNP include significant populations of the globally threatened Swamp Francolin, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Bengal Florican, White-rumped Vulture, Slender-billed Vulture, Indian Spotted Eagle, Steppe Eagle, White-throated Bushchat, Bristled Grassbird, Jerdon’s Babbler and Finn’s Weaver. ShNP is especially important for grassland species, supporting one of the two largest populations of the Critically Endangered Bengal Florican in Nepal and only one of two Nepal sites where Jerdon’s Babbler has been recorded. The national park also holds the large majority of Nepal’s wintering population of White-throated Bushchat and is the country’s only regular wintering site for the species (Baral et al. 2021). In recent years, the population of this species has declined sharply warranting review of its global threat status. ShNP is the only site in Nepal having breeding populations of Finn’s Weaver and the population present here is considered globally significant (Poudyal et al. 2020). Other globally threatened grassland specialists for which the reserve has significant populations are Swamp Francolin and Bristled Grassbird. </div><div><br></div><div>Non-bird biodiversity: A total of 57 mammal species have been recorded including the following globally threatened species: Tiger Panthera tigris, Asian Elephant Elephas maximus, Hispid Hare Caprolagushispidus, Smooth-coated Otter Lutrogaleperspicillata, Barasingha (or Swamp Deer) Rucervusduvaucelii and, also Indian Rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis. (Adhikari 2003, Poudyal et al. 2020, 2021). ShNP supports the largest population of the nominate race of Barasingha Cervus duvaucelii, in the world (Schaaf 1978). ShNP has a record of 15 species of amphibians and 56 species of reptiles including a healthy population of the globally threatened Mugger Crocodile Crocodylus palustris and Burmese Python Python vittatus (Rawat et al. 2020). A total of 88 fish species has been recorded in rivers, lakes and ponds of ShNP (Bhatt and Shrestha, 1977, Poudyal et al. 2022). More than 650 plant species have been recorded in the reserve (Rijal and Yonzon 2003).</div>
Manageability of the site: Site identified based on BirdLife International's Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, under which manageability is strongly recommended but not explicitly documented
Delineation rationale: Protected IBAs extended to include designated Buffer Zones
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The main vegetation types are: Sal Shorea robusta forest; Sal savanna, which is part of a continuum between climax forest and grassland that is maintained by fire or floods; mixed deciduous forest, which is patchily distributed among the more extensive grasslands in the south-west (Sal is absent); grasslands, which may be dry (locally known as phantas) or wet in the case of areas inundated during the monsoon; lowland savanna, which occurs on the fringes of all main grasslands and covers most of Karaiya Phanta; khair-sissoo forest, dominated by Acacia catechu and Dalbergia sissoo and forming an early succession in riverine areas; and marsh, in which tall dense grasses are predominant (e.g. Phragmites karka, Saccharum spontaneum and Sclerostachya fusca) (Schaaf 1978).
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: In the BZ the demand for forest products including fuelwood is high. Average household wood fuel demand in Kanchanpur district was 7,300 kg a year in 2001. In addition, people need grass for roof thatching, fibre, oil seeds and other parts of plants for ceremonial use, medicine, and art and craft. As sustainable yield from these forests does not meet demand the forests will be depleted unless alternative sources are found (Rijal and Yonzon 2003). Grazing pressure from domestic livestock has been the major factor causing the decline of many grassland bird and mammal species that are now threatened. With the exception of the main phanta many grasslands in the national park are overgrazed, notably those lying close to human settlements e.g. grasslands close to Jhilmila. Although such overgrazed grasslands provide habitat for many common bird species, many threatened species are absent. Grassland encroachment by tree and shrub saplings is another major threat to the long-term existence of the main phantas.<div>Wetlands in the national park are at risk from drying out because of aquatic vegetation and possibly also due to climate breakdown. Shukla Phanta’s forests are highly susceptible to fires that are lit deliberately and sometimes accidentally. Fire encourages the growth of new shoots of grasses and also kills some trees which villagers then tend to collect for using firewood. While fires benefit ungulates by encouraging a fresh growth of grasses, they have much reduced shrub and tree regeneration and resulted in open forests with little or no understorey and a much reduced bird community. It is notable that no laughing thrushes have been recorded at Shukla Phanta and only three other forest babblers. This group depends on a good forest shrub layer. Widespread lack of conservation awareness amongst local communities is another important issue. </div>
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Gathering terrestrial plants | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Adhikari, TR (2003) Conservation and development approaches in Royal Shukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve. Report submitted to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation of His Majesty’s Government of Nepal. Prepared for the Management Plan through the Participatory Conservation Program, UNDP and Royal Shukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve by Resources Himalaya.<div>Baral, H S and Inskipp, C (2009) The birds of Shukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve, Nepal. Our Nature 7: 56-81. http://www.nepjol.info/index.php/ON</div><div>Baral, H. S., Bhatt, T. R., Dhakal, , D. K., Chaudhary, D., Yadav, H. K., Poudyal, L. P., Chaudhary, H., Joshi, P. R., Inskipp, C. and Amin, R. (2021). Decline of White-throated Bushchat Saxicola insignis Gray J. E. and J. R. Gray, 1847 (Aves: Passeriformes: Muscicapidae) in Nepal: implications on its global status. Journal of Threatened Taxa 13(3): 17847–17855. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.6077.13.3.17847-17855</div><div>Bhatt, DD and Shrestha, TK (1977) The environment of Sukla Phanta. Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu.<br><div>Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (2015) Protected area information. Shukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve. http://www.dnpwc.gov.np/index.php/page/34 Downloaded 28 April 2015.</div><div>Joshi, L.R., H.S. Baral, L.P. Poudyal, D.R. Joshi,R. Saud & C. Chand (2024). Breeding of Indian Spotted Eagle and some new bird records for Shuklaphanta National Park, Nepal. Bird-o-soar #242, In: Zoo’s Print39(8): 17–20.</div><div>National Trust for Nature Conservation 2021. Annual Report. National Trust for Nature Conservation, Khumaltar, Lalitpur <br>Poudyal, LP, Singh, PB and Maharajan, S (2008a) Status and distribution of Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis in Nepal. Final report to Oriental Bird Club and The Club 300 Foundation for Bird Protection Sweden. Unpublished.<br>Poudyal, LP, Singh, PB and Maharajan, S (2008b) The decline of Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis in Nepal. Danphe 17(1): 4-6. http://www.birdlifenepal.org/publication.php <br></div><div>Poudyal, L. P., Baral, H. S. and Joshi, D. R. (2020) Recent records of globally threatened Finn's Weaver Ploceus megarhynchus Hume 1869 (Ploceidae: Passeriformes: Aves) from Shuklaphanta National Park, Nepal: implications to its global status. Minivet 3: 1-9.</div><div><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Poudyal, L. P., Lamichhane, B. R., Baral, H. S., and Basnet, H. (2020). Wild Mammals of the Shuklaphanta National Park. Shuklaphanta National Park Office and Himalayan Nature, Kanchanpur and Kathmandu, Nepal.</span></div><div>Poudyal L.P., Ghimire M., Acharya S., Chaudhary H. and Baral H.S. (2024). Birds of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, Nepal. NepaleseJournal of Zoology, 8(1):29–47.https://doi.org/10.3126/njz.v8i1.67110<br>Rawat, Y. B., Bhattarai, S., Poudyal, L. P. and Subedi, N. (2020). Herpetofauna of Shuklaphanta National Park, Nepal. Journal of Threatened Taxa 12(5): 15587–15611. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.5611.12.5.15587-15611</div><div>Rijal, A and Yonzon, P (2003) Vegetation ecology of the Royal Shukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve, Farwest Nepal. Submitted to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Kathmandu. Unpublished.</div><div>Schaaf, CD (1978) Ecology and behaviour of the northern race of swamp deer (Cervus duvauceli duvauceli Cuvier) in the Shukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve of Nepal. PhD thesis, Michigan State University, Michigan, USA.</div></div><div>UNDP (2012) Western Terai Landscape Complex Project. www.np.undp.org/content/nepal/ Downloaded 28 April 2015.</div>
Contributors: Site identified based on Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas by the BirdLife International Partnership