Ghodaghodi Tal Explained

Ghodaghodi Tal is a Ramsar site in western Nepal. It was established in August 2003 it covers an area of in Kailali District at an elevation of on the lower slopes of the Siwalik Hills. It was declared as a bird sanctuary in March 2022.^[1]

This Ramsar site consists of a system of around 13 large and shallow oxbow lakes and ponds with associated marshes and meadows. It is surrounded by tropical deciduous forest and some streams along the periphery, which are separated by hillocks.^[2]

Flora

The lake has record of 388 vascular plants: five ptredophytes, 253 dicots, and 130 monocots.^[3]

Fauna

The forest and wetlands serve as a wildlife corridor between the Terai lowland and the Siwalik Hills. They support critically endangered and vulnerable species including Bengal tiger, smooth-coated otter, Eurasian otter, swamp deer, lesser adjutant stork, red-crowned roofed turtle and three-striped roofed turtle.

During a survey in February 2021, 26 mugger crocodiles were recorded in 18 lakes.^[4]

External links

• The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands: The Annotated Ramsar List of Nepal

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ghodaghodi wetland area declared country’s first bird sanctuary . 2022-07-12 . kathmandupost.com . English.
2. Bhuju, U. R., Shakya, P. R., Basnet, T. B., Shrestha, S. (2007). Nepal Biodiversity Resource Book. Protected Areas, Ramsar Sites, and World Heritage Sites. International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, in cooperation with United Nations Environment Programme, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. Kathmandu,
3. SUFFREC, 2013. The Initiation, Student Forum for Forestry and Environment Conservation, Kathmandu Forestry College, Kathmandu, Nepal
4. Lamichhane, S. . amp . Bhattarai, D. . Karki, J.B. . Gautam, A.P. . Pandeya, P. . Tirpathi, S. . Mahat, N. . Population status, habitat occupancy and conservation threats to Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) in Ghodaghodi lake complex, Nepal . Global Ecology and Conservation . 2022 . 33 . e01977 . 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01977. free .