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~ National parks ~ Conservation areas ~ Wildlife reserves ~ Hunting reserve There are 16 national parks, wildlife reserves and conservation areas in Nepal, occupying over 16% of its total area. NATIONAL PARKS Khaptad National Park (225 sq km) consists of middle and high mountains with  an average elevation of 3,000m. The vegetation ranges from sub-tropical forests at lower altitudes to grasslands and oak and coniferous forests on the uplands. The fauna includes the leopard, yellow-throated marten, black bear, musk deer, ghoral and Himalayan tahr. Some of the birds of the area are pheasant, partridge, red-and yellow-billed blue magpie and Himalayan griffon. The ashram of Khaptad Swami is located inside the park. Langtang national park (1,710 sq km) encompasses high mountain and high Himalaya terrain. About one-fourth of the park is forest - oaks, maple, rhododendron, chir pine, fir, blue pine, hemlock and spruce. The holy Gosaikund Lake is situated here. The animals found here are the wild dog, Himalayan red panda, pika, muntjack musk deer, Himalayan back bear, Himalayan tahr, ghoral, sorrow, rhesus monkey and the common langur. This region is also and important route for migrating birds. The majority of the local inhabitants here are Tamangs and Sherpas. Makalu-Barun National And Conservation Area (1,500 sq km national park + 830  sq km conservation area 2,330 sq km) extends from high mountains to the high Himalaya. The elevation ranges from 500 to over 8,000m. Most of this protected area is remote wilderness. It offers more than 3,000 species of flowering plants. Wildlife includes the endangered red panda, musk deer, Himalayan black bear, clouded leopard and possibly the snow leopard too. Over 400 species of birds thrive here. The majority of people living in the conservation area belong to the Rai community.Rara National Park (106 sq km) has its gem in Rara, Nepal`s biggest lake (10.8 sq km) at 2,990m! The park is situated in the high mountain region, much of it at an elevation of about 3,000 m. There are coniferous forests of blue pine, black juniper, West Himalayan spruce, oak and Himalayan cypress as well as Indian horse-chestnut, walnut and Himalayan poplar. It is an ideal habitat for the musk deer, Himalayan black bear, leopard, ghoral, Himalayan tahr and the wild boar. Royal Bardia National Park (968 sq km) is the largest and most undisturbed  wilderness area in the Terai lowland. It consists of sal forests and tall grasslands. It is a regenerated habitat for endangered species like the rhinoceros, wild elephant, tiger, swamp deer, black buck, gharial crocodile and Gangetic dolphin. Cobras, Kraits and pythons are also found here. Endangered birds include the Bengal florican, lesser florican, silver-eared mesia ans Sarus crane. The local people are mainly Tharus. Royal Chitwan National Park (932 sq km) is located in the subtropical lowlands and consists of sal forests, tall grasslands, hills, ox-bow lakes and flood plains. Over 50 species of mammals, 55 species of amphibians and reptiles and 525 species of birds are found here. Animals include the one-horned rhino, Bengal tiger, gaur, wild elephant, antelope, striped hyena, pangolin, gharial crocodile and the Gangetic dolphin. Cobras, kraits and pythons are also found here. There are many Tharu villages adjoining the park. Sagarmatha National Park (1,148sq km) includes the great Himalayan peaks of Everest, Lhotse, (Cho Oyu, Nuptse and other giants. It is the land of the Sherpas. Broken into deep gorges and glacial valleys, the park has vegetation graduating from pine, hemlock, fir, juniper, birch, rhododendron and scrubs to alpine plants and then to bare rock and snow. This is home to the Himalayan tahr, ghoral, serow and musk deer. Common birds are the impeyan pheasant, blood pheasant, red-billed chough and the yellow-billed chough. Elevation ranges from 2,845 m to 8,848 m. She-phoksundo National Park (3555 sq km) comprises High Mountain and  trans-Himalayan ecosystems. It covers parts of Dolpa, the famed land of yak caravans and salt traders. The lifestyle and culture of the local people remind one of Tibet. The park`s centerpiece is lake Phoksundo (also known as Ringmo). Forests of blue pine, spruce, cypress, poplar, deodar, fir and birch are fund here. It is a prime habitat for the snow leopard and the blue sheep; so also for ghoral, Himalayan tahr, leopard, wolf, jackal and black bear. The place is equally rich in many kinds of birds. Top CONSERVATION AREAS Annapurna Conservation Area Project - ACAP(2,629 sq km) encompasses forested middle mountain, high Himalaya and trans Himalayan desert plateau ecosystems. The area dominated by Annapurna I (8,091 m), the 10th highest mountain in the world. Schima and chestnut trees and found in the subtropical forests between 1,000-2,000m which give way to rhododendron, oak, hemlock and silver fir as you ascend to the temperate zone (1,700-3,000m). Rhesus monkeys, yellow-throated martens and Himalayan weasels are some of the wildlife commonly encountered. Birds include the Himalayan griffon, lammergeyer, fork tail, redstart, thrush and kingfisher. Gurung, Magar, Thakali and Brahmin Villages dot the lower elevation. The Tibetan cultural influence becomes stronger as you go north. Manaslu Conservation Area (1,663 sq km) is situated in a remote  area to the north of Gorkha, home of the original Gorkha soldiers. It encompasses the seventh highest mountain in the world, Mt. Manaslu (8,156 m). The environment is middle mountain to high Himalaya, and supports 2,000 species of plants with 19 forest types. The snow lepard, lynx, gray wolf, musk deer and the Assamese monkey have been sighted here. There are 110 species of birds. The region has strong Tibetan cultural influences.Kanchenjunga Conservation Area ( 2,035 sq km) includes middle mountains and the high Himalaya. It offers high alpine vegetation and a variety of rhododendron, fir, hemlock and oak trees. The area is rich in wildlife, notably the snow leopard, clouded leopard, blue sheep, Himalayan tahr, marmot and weasel. Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world at 8,586 m, straddles the border between Nepal and India. This region is the home of the Limbu people. Top WILDLIFE RESERVES Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (175 sq km) is situated in the Terai  lowlands. The vegetation here is mainly wetland grassland, scrub and deciduous forests. The reserve is unique for its wild arna buffaloes. Other mammals are the hog deer, wild boar, spotted deer and blue bull. Over 350 species of birds including ibises, storks, egrets, herons, swamp partridges and Bengal floricans are found here. The endangered gharial, marsh crocodile and Gangetic dolphin are also recorded in the Koshi river. Parsa Wildlife Reserve (499 sq km) encompasses hills and Terai flatlands and has a sub-tropical monsoon climate. About 90% of the area is sal forests, with chir pine, Khair, sissoo and silk cotton trees and tall grasslands making up the rest. The reserve supports wild elephant, tiger, leopard, sloth bear, gaur, blue bull, wild dog, sambar, chittal, hog deer, barking deer, langur, striped hyena and other animals. Cobras, Kraits and pythons are also found here. There are nearly 300 species of birds, including the endangered giant hornbill. Royal Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve (305 sq km) was until recently a royal hunting domain. It is dominated by sal trees associated with asna, semal, karma, khair and sissoo sub-species and phanta grasslands. A prime habitat for the swamp deer, it is also home to the wild elephant, tiger, hispid hare, blue bull, leopard, chittal, hog deer and wild boar, along with over 300 species of birds. Reptiles include the marsh mugger, Indian python, monitor lizard, cobra, krait and rat snake. Shivapuri Watershed And Wildlife Reserve (144 sq km) is situated  on the hill of Shivapuri to the north of Kathmandu. This is an easily accessible destination for viewing orchids, rhododendrons, pines, utisa trees as well as many medicinal and herbal plants. Rising to a height of 2,732 m, Shivapuri is home to the sloth bear, langur monkey, leopard, barking deer and many species of birds. Top HUNTING RESERVE Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve (1,325 sq km) extends from the middle mountains to the high Himalaya. Pasturelands cover the higher elevations while fir, pine, birch, rhododendron, hemlock, oak, juniper and spruce and found in the lower elevations. There reserve attracts sports hunters for the blue sheep and Himalayan tahr. Other animals found here are the leopard, ghoral, serow, Himalayan black bear, barking deer and wild boar. Pheasants and partridges as common here. The majority of people in the region belong to the Magar, Thakali and Gurung ethnic groups. Especially Chitwan National Park is undoubtedly one of the outstanding wild life sanctuaries in the world as well as Koshi Tappu, Bardia National Park, Parsa wildlife reserve & Dhorpatan hunting reserve. You will have the good experience of one of the best Jungle Safari operations in of the world. Top |