Wildlife of Nepal

Wildlife of Nepal

Nepal is a small landlocked country in South Asia covering 0.03 percent of the world’s total surface area. The altitude of Nepal ranges from 60 meters to 8,848 meters from lowlands to the world's highest peak- Mount Everest. Due to the diversity of altitude, climate, and vegetation, there is diversity in wildlife.

Wildlife traditionally meant only animal species but now it includes all the species in the wild area. The wildlife differs from every part. The wildlife in forests, water, or deserts is in different forms. The wildlife basically includes both flora and fauna. Nepal is home to plenty of rare species of flora and fauna preserved and promoted by 12 national parks, 1 wildlife reserve, 6 conservation areas, 1 hunting reserve, and 10 Ramsar sites. The concept of preservation was introduced in Nepal only after 1973 when the first national park of Nepal was established by late king Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev.

Nepal is home to 208 mammals, over 900 species of birds, 5041 species of angiosperms, 26 species of gymnosperms, and 186 species of fishes. Therefore, Nepal’s wildlife is categorized into two types:

• Protected wildlife

• Common wildlife

Nepal is a habitat for rare and endangered mammals like Red Panda, Snow leopard, One-horned rhinoceros, Bengal tiger, Musk deer, Swamp deer, Asiatic elephant, Four-horned antelope, Blackbuck, Indian Pangolin, Chinese Pangolin, Assamese monkey, Grey wolf, Brown bear, Spotted Linsang, Striped Hyaena, Leopard Cat, Clouded Leopard, Lynx, Gaur Bison, Wild Yak, Wild Water Buffalo, Tibetan Antelope, Great Tibetan Sheep, Hispid hare, and Pigmy hog.

Similarly, Nepal provides shelter to rare and endangered birds like Giant Hornbill, Impeyan Pheasant, Bengal Florican, Black Stork, White Stork, Crimson- horned Pheasant, Cheer Pheasant, Lesser Florican, and Saurus Crane.

Nepal is home to endangered species of reptiles as well. Gharial Gharial, Golden Monitor Lizard, and Asiatic Rock Python are some rare species of reptiles protected in Nepal.

There are 27 species of mammals, 9 birds, and 3 reptiles protected in Nepal. While the common wildlife in Nepal is Blue sheep, Spotted deer, Himalayan tahr, and common leopard.

Plant species of Nepal are rare and endangered here in Nepal too. Golden Himalayan raspberry, Golden Michelia, Spikenard, Serpentina, and Cordyceps. These plants have high medicinal value and are only found in Nepal. However, there is a plant named rhododendron, which is the national flower of Nepal and are found in plenty of amount, types and color all over Nepal at an altitude ranging from 1,400 meters to 3,600 meters.

Some major reasons for this wildlife to be endangered are the destruction of habitat, overexploitation of animal or plant products, poaching, and pollution.  In order to balance the ecosystem, we need to protect, preserve and promote the available flora and fauna. So, the government of Nepal has taken necessary measures to protect the endangered species either in their own habitat as in situ conservation like national parks and sanctuaries or outside their natural habitat taking all the necessary measures as ex-situ conservation like breeding centers or nurseries.