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NP018
Parsa Wildlife Reserve
Location Nepal, Narayani
Central coordinates 84o 20.00' East  27o 28.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A3
Area 49,900 ha
Altitude 200 - 950m
Year of IBA assessment 2005

Bird Conservation Nepal (Partner Designate)



Ornithological information Over 250 species have been reported from Parsa Wildlife Reserve (Todd 2001, Baral and Pradhan 1992). However, the reserve is very under-recorded and many more species are likely to be found. Four globally threatened and one near-threatened bird species occur , but like many other species in the reserve, their status is unknown. There are large areas of dry tropical forest that are likely to support significant populations of characteristic species of the Indo-Malayan Tropical Dry Zone biome.

Site description Parsa was set up in 1984 on the eastern side of Royal Chitwan National Park. The reserve encompasses part of the Churia hills and bhabar land. It has a subtropical monsoon climate but, due to the gravel and conglomerate soil composition, the ground is very porous and, as a result, there are many dry streams, ravines, and gullies. The reserve is dominated by Sal Shorea robusta forests throughout. Chir Pine Pinus roxburghii grows on the hills, and Sissoo Dalbergia sissoo and Khair Acacia catechu trees grow sparsely on the floodplains (Todd 2001).

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus unknown  2004  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus resident  2004  unknown [units unknown]  -  A1  Vulnerable 
Red-naped Ibis Pseudibis papillosa unknown  2004  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis resident  2004  rare [units unknown]  -  A1, A3  Critically Endangered 
Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris resident  2004  rare [units unknown]  -  A1, A3  Critically Endangered 
White-eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa unknown  2004  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Yellow-footed Green-pigeon Treron phoenicopterus unknown  2004  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala unknown  2004  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Sirkeer Malkoha Phaenicophaeus leschenaultii unknown  2004  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Indian Nightjar Caprimulgus asiaticus unknown  2004  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Indian Grey Hornbill Ocyceros birostris unknown  2004  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis resident  2004  unknown [units unknown]  -  A1  Near Threatened 
Lineated Barbet Megalaima lineata unknown  2004  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Dendrocopos mahrattensis unknown  2004  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense unknown  2004  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus unknown  2004  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus unknown  2004  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
White-bellied Drongo Dicrurus caerulescens unknown  2004  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
White-browed Fantail Rhipidura aureola unknown  2004  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Rufous-winged Lark Mirafra assamica unknown  2004  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Grey-crowned Prinia Prinia cinereocapilla resident  2004  unknown [units unknown]  -  A1  Vulnerable 
Jungle Babbler Turdoides striata unknown  2004  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Chestnut-tailed Starling Sturnus malabaricus unknown  2004  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Brahminy Starling Sturnus pagodarum unknown  2004  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Parsa Wildlife Reserve 49,900 is identical to site 49,900  
Royal Chitwan National Park 93,200 protected area is adjacent to site 0  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest   -
Grassland   -

Other biodiversity The reserve provides excellent habitat for other wildlife. Globally threatened species include Tiger Panthera tigris, Asian Elephant Elephas maximus, Gaur Bos frontalis, Asian Wild Dog Cuon alpinus and Nilgai Boselaphus tragocamelus.

Conservation response Conservation issues at Parsa are poorly known, but it seems to be facing fewer threats than Chitwan from local communities. Virtually no tourists visit Parsa.

References Inskipp (1989a), Baral and Pradhan (1992), Green (1993), Todd (2001).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Parsa Wildlife Reserve. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/05/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife