180, official Forest Dept. estimate
about 100, estimate
800, estimate
165, estimate
Map
The south central part of Nepal was strictly guarded as a shooting reserve for the Ranas. Royal hunts in these areas were renowned for their elaborate preparations and grandeur, as well as for the great number and variety of big game shot. Hundreds of elephants were sometimes used in a single beat in honour of visiting royalty. Kasra Durbar, situated on the south bank of the Rapti River ca. 10 miles east of ?Tiger Tops' (established in Nov 1965), was originally built as a shooting lodge during the 1930's for the Rana family. It is located on the site of an earlier shooting lodge built for the 1911 visit of King George V, then Prince of Wales.
After democracy (1951), many rhino were poached and the horns sold to further the cause of the political upheaval which ended the Rana rule. Poaching of rhino continued in the following years.
The Mahendra Mrigan Kunja (Mahendra Deer Park) established in 1959, is being reconstituted as a national park. The boundaries of the proposed park do not exactly coincide with those formerly established. Total area now about 60 sq.miles. Another national park is proposed south of the rapti Rivier.
