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Nepal's first and most famous national park is situated in
the Chitwan Doon or the lowlands of the
Inner Terai. Covering an area of 932 sq
km. the park includes hilly areas of the
Siwalik Range covered by deciduous sal forest.
A fifth of the park is made up of the floodplains
of the Narayani, Rapti, and the Reu Rivers
and is covered by dense tall elephant grass
interspersed with riverine forests of silk
cotton (kapok), acacia and sisam trees.
This ecologically diverse area is the last
remaining home in Nepal for more than 300
of the endangered Asian one-horned rhinoceros
and harbours one of the largest populations
of the elusive and rare Royal Bengal tiger.
Besides rhino and tiger, Chitwan also supports
a great variety of flora and fauna. There
are four species of deer, including the
spotted chittal, leopard, sloth bear, wild
boar, rhesus monkey, grey langur monkey,
wild dog, small wild cats, the white stockinged
gaur (the world's largest wild cattle) and
many other smaller animals. The swampy areas
and numerous oxbow lakes of Chitwan provide
a home for marsh crocodiles. In a stretch
of the Narayani river is found one of the
few remaining populations of the rare and
endangered fish-only eating gharial, or
Genetic crocodile. Here also is found one
of the world's four species of freshwater
dolphins. For the ornithologist and the
amateur bird-watcher the park offers excellent
possibilities with more than 450 species
recorded. Some of the resident specialities
are several species of woodpeckers, hornbills,
Bengal florican, and red-headed trogons.
Winter birds such as waterfowl, Brahminy
duck, pintails and bareheaded geese, amongst
many other cold weather visitors are drawn
by the sanctuary of the park's rivers. In
the summer the forest is alive with nesting
migrants such as the fabulous paradise flycatcher,
the Indian pitta and parakeets.
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