Bardia as a district of Nepal was formed in 1816 when the Sugauli Treaty was signed between the British East India Company and the Nepal Army. In 1860 the British formally gave back this far western region of Nepal, naming it "Naya Mulak" (meaning new country), as a sign of their gratefulness to Western Nepal's assistance in the 1857 uprising in India. Following this, in 1967 368 sq.km of the park was established as a Royal hunting protected forest. Then in 1968 FNO and the UNDP Forest Development Project commenced work in Thakurdwara and Babai to protect the national park. 3 years later in 1971, an action committee was created to make a wildlife reserve in these two areas. Following this in 1972 the office at Thakurdwara was established and in 1973 the government developed the Act 2029bs which declared the park as a conservation area. In 1976, the name of the Royal hunting protected forest was changed to Royal Karnali wildlife reserve, and then changed again in 1982 to Royal Bardiya wildlife reserve. Following this name change in 1982, the park expanded in 1984 to include Babai valley, forcing approximately 8500 people from 1573 houses to resettle elsewhere. As the population in Babai valley has ceased, the area has naturally regenerated creating a readily apt and prime habitat for wildlife. Finally, in 1988 this protected park comprising of 968 sq. km was declared as Royal Bardiya National Park. This is the historical backdrop to one of Nepal's most diversely rich and beautiful parks, now known simply as Bardiya National Park