By Jaya Krishna Yadav, Inaruwa, Mar 17: Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, one of the major tourist destinations in Sunsari district, has witnessed an increased flow of domestic tourists after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Elephants and jungle safaris have been attractions to the domestic tourists these days.  

According to the Reserve Office, the number of domestic tourists visiting elephant safaris has increased in West Kushaha. As there is only one elephant reserve in Province 1, the number of tourists has increased since the fall in COVID-19 cases, said the Conservation Officer of the reserve, Ashok Ram.

At present, there are eight elephants in the reserve, six of which are being used for a safari to tourists, and over 100 domestic tourists visit the reserve daily, Ram said.

Domestic tourists have been coming to visit Laxmikali and Shobhakali, who is pregnant with two baby elephants in Hattisar.

According to Hattisar branch officer Ram Gulam Chaudhary, elephant riders in the reserve are given an elephant safari for one hour at Rs. 500. Elephants are the main attraction and choice of domestic tourists in the reserve, Chaudhary said.

Elephant safari costs Rs. 500 for domestic tourists but Rs. 1,000 for SAARC countries and Rs. 1,500 for foreign nationals.

Chaudhary said that all eight elephants in the reserve are females and that they are recruited from the wild for breeding. There are four wild male elephants in the forest area.

According to Chaudhary, the federal government has provided 15 kg of paddy, 1.5 kg of sugar and 250 g of salt per elephant in Koshi Tappu. The elephant sanctuary on the reserve is working for the promotion of tourism including the protection of elephants in the reserve.