Valmiki Tiger Reserve

• Location: West Champaran district, Bihar, in the north-western part of the state.
• Geographical Setting: Lies along the India–Nepal international border and forms part of the Terai landscape.
• Tiger Reserve: It is Bihar’s only Tiger Reserve.
• Project Tiger: Included under Project Tiger in 1990.
• National Park: Valmiki National Park forms part of the reserve.
• Wildlife Sanctuary: Valmiki Wildlife Sanctuary is also part of the protected landscape.
• Forest Type: Dominated by Terai and Bhabar forests, along with grasslands and riverine vegetation.
• Rivers: Important rivers associated with the reserve include the Gandak, Burhi Gandak, Masan and Pandai.
• Gandak River: The Gandak River is an important river of the Valmiki landscape and flows along the western part of the reserve.
• Nepal Connection: The reserve is contiguous with the Chitwan National Park and Parsa National Park landscapes of Nepal, facilitating wildlife movement across the border.
• Tiger Landscape: It is an important part of the Terai Arc Landscape, which extends across India and Nepal.
• Major Fauna: Tiger, leopard, sloth bear, gaur, sambar, chital, wild boar, nilgai and Indian rhinoceros.
• Gharial: The river systems associated with the reserve provide habitat for gharial.
• Elephants: The reserve also supports Asian elephants and forms part of an important wildlife movement landscape.
• Ecological Importance: Important for Terai biodiversity, tiger conservation and transboundary wildlife corridors.

Prelims Question

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Valmiki Tiger Reserve:

1. It is located in Bihar.
2. It shares an international boundary with Nepal.
3. It forms part of the Terai Arc Landscape.
4. Valmiki National Park forms part of the reserve.
5. It is Bihar’s only Tiger Reserve.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
(b) 1, 2 and 3 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only

Answer: (a) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Explanation

• Statement 1 — Correct: Valmiki Tiger Reserve is located in West Champaran, Bihar.
• Statement 2 — Correct: It lies along the India–Nepal border.
• Statement 3 — Correct: It is part of the Terai Arc Landscape.
• Statement 4 — Correct: Valmiki National Park forms part of the protected landscape.
• Statement 5 — Correct: It is Bihar’s only Tiger Reserve.

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