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 Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve has carved a place for itself as a birdwatcher's paradise. The reserve spreads over Saptari and Sunsari districts in East Nepal, defined by the eastern and western embankments of River Koshi. The reserve is mainly grassland with patches of scrub and deciduous revering forests. What makes Koshi Tappu special is the kind of birds which you may not find in other parts of Nepal. The reserve has recorded around 439 species of bird variety, some of which migrate all the way from Siberia during winter. A wide variety of ducks, herons, storks, egrets, and ibis are seen on the riverbanks. Koshi Tappu Reserve also accommodates one of the few elephant stables of Asia. Other animals found here are wild buffalo, wild boar, hog deer, spotted deer, blue bell and jackal with unique attraction of Gharial crocodile and Gangetic dolphin. The best time to visit Koshi Tappu is between October and March. Regular bus services are available from Kathmandu and other major cities. The reserve can be accessed from Laukani on the East West Highway from this point the park headquarters at Kusaha is just three kilometers away. Another option is to fly to Biratnagar and then drive to Laukahi or Prakashpur. This Reserve was gazetted in 1976, and established mainly to preserve the habitats for the last remnant population of wild water buffalo in Nepal. In addition, there are larger ungulates such as gaur, nilgai, hog deer and wild pig, and medium sized predators such as fishing cat, jungle cat, and civets.
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