Introduction

Banke National Park (BaNP) is situated in the mid-western Tarai region of Nepal in Lumbini Province. BaNP is an important component of Terai Arc Landscape (TAL), which provides additional habitat for tigers. BaNP was established on Baisakh 30, 2067 B.S. (May 12, 2010). It was officially declared and published in the Nepal Gazette on Asadh 28, 2067 B.S. (12 July 2010), with a core area of 550 km2 and 343 km2 of BZ. The establishment of this park for the conservation of wild tigers, an endangered wildlife species, reflects the commitment of the Government of Nepal towards biodiversity conservation at the landscape level. The core area of the park is entirely located in the Lumbini Province (Banke district), while its buffer zone includes portions of Lumbini Province (Banke, Bardia, Dang district) and Karnali Province (Salyan district). The park borders Bardia National Park in the west, which connects to Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary and Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary via the Khata and the Kamdi corridor in the south-east of India. The connectivity facilitates the genetic exchange of wildlife between PAs of Nepal and India, thereby providing habitat for free-ranging megafauna such as tigers and wild elephants. The park can be divided into important ecological zones, namely the plains, Bhabar, and Churai regions. Of the several flora recorded in the park, 263 species have been identified. Sal (Shorea robusta), Asna (Terminalia tomentosa), Chiraunjee (Buchanania latifolia), Bajhi (Anogeisus latifolia), Sissoo (Dalbergia sisoo), Khair (Acacia catechu), Dumri (Ficus glomerata), Sindure (Mallatous philippinsis) and Jamun (Eugenia jambolana) are the dominant species in terms of density and basal area. About 20 to 30% of the area is dominated by Sal forest, and other species include Barro (Terminalia belerica), Harro (Terminalia chebula), Karma (Adina cordifolia), Kusum (Schleichera trijuga), Bhalayo (Semecarpus anacardium), Tantari (Dillenia pentagyna) and Bot Dhaiyanro (Lagerstroemia parviflora). Also, the park is home to 34 species of mammals, 236 species of birds, 9 species of amphibians, 24 species of reptiles, and 55 species of fish. Out of them, 7 species of mammals (Tiger, Leopard Cat, Spotted Lingsang, Wild Elephant, Striped Hyaena, Four Horned Antelope, and Indian Pangolin), two species of reptiles (Python and Golden Monitor Lizard), and one species of bird (Giant Hornbill) are on the protected list of the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 2029.