The name "Chitwan" translates to "Heart of the Jungle," a fitting name for an area that has played a central role in Nepal's natural history. The journey from a hunting reserve to a globally recognized conservation success story is fascinating.
The Royal Hunting Reserve
Before the mid-20th century, the Chitwan valley was a private, restricted hunting reserve for Nepal's ruling class and their international guests. Grand, elaborate hunts were organized for royalty, targeting rhinos, leopards, and tigers.
While this period sounds detrimental to wildlife, the strict restriction on who could enter the valley inadvertently protected the wider ecosystem from mass deforestation and agricultural settlement that affected other regions.
During this era, only the indigenous Tharu people largely inhabited the area, as their historical resistance to malaria allowed them to survive the harsh lowland conditions.
A Shift to Conservation
In the 1950s, eradication programs cleared the area of malaria, leading to a massive influx of settlers from the hills looking for arable land. The dense jungles were rapidly cleared, and wildlife populations plummeted dramatically.
Realizing the imminent the danger of losing species completely, the Nepalese government acted. In 1973, a 932 sq. km area was officially demarcated and established as Chitwan National Park, making it the very first national park in Nepal.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Recognizing the park's exceptional natural beauty, its status as one of the last surviving examples of the natural ecosystems of the 'Terai' region, and its critical role as a refuge for the Greater One-Horned Rhino and the Bengal Tiger, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.