Area: 3555 sq. km
Established: 1984
LOCATION:
Shey-Phoksundo National Park is situated in the mountain region of Western Nepal, covering parts of
Dolpa and Mugu District. It is the largest national park in the country.
FEATURES:
The park contains luxuriant forests mainly comprised of blue pine, spruce, cypress, poplar, deodar, fir and
birch. The Jugdula River valley consists mostly of Qurercus species. The trans-Himalayan area has near-
desert type vegetation of mainly dwarf juniper and caragana shrubs.
The park provides prime habitat for snow leopard and blue sheep. Other common animals found in the park are: goral, Himalayan tahr, serow, leopard, wolf, jackal, Himalayan black bear, Himalayan weasel, Himalayan mouse hare, yellow-throated marten, langur and rhesus monkeys. The park is equally rich in many varieties of birds, such as Impeyan pheasant (danphe), blood pheasant, cheer pheasant, red and yellow billed cough, raven, jungle crow, snow partridge and many others.
Area: 255 sq. km
Established: 1984
LOCATION:
Khaptad National Park is located in the mid-mountain region of Far-Western Nepal at an air distance of 446
km. from Kathmandu. The core area is situated at the cross point of the Bijhang, Bajura, Doti and Accam
Districts of Seti Zone.
FEATURES:
The park covers the unique mid-mountain ecosystem of Western Nepal, and is situated at about 300 m.
elevation. The upland is a rolling plateau of grasslands intermixed with oak and coniferous forests.
There is a great variety of vegetation types ranging from sub-tropical forest in the lower altitudes (Jhingrana and Chaikot of Doti) to temperate forest on the Khaptad plateau. The most common tree species are chirpine, spruce, fir, maple, birch, alder and rhododendron. Dense bamboo stands (nigalo) and wide varieties of medicinal herbs occur in the park.
The most common fauna in the park are leopard, Himalayan yellow-throated marten, Himalayan tahr and others. The common bird species include Impeyan pheasant, chkor partridge, kalij pheasant, monal, red and yellow-billed blue magpie, and Himalayan griffin. A wide variety of colorful butterflies, moths and insects are also an important feature of the Khaptad ecosystem.
The core area of Khaptad is of much religious importance. It includes the Ashram of Khaptad Swami, a renowned spiritual saint. Therefore, all the vices of modern society such as alcohol, cigarettes and tobacco, violence and killing are prohibited.
Area: 968 sq. km.
Established: First gazetted in 1976 and further extended in 1984.
LOCATION:
Royal Bardiya National Park is situated in the mid-Far Western Terai, east of the Karnali River.
FEATURES:
The park is the largest and most undisturbed wilderness area in the Terai. About 70% of the park is covered
with dominantly sal forest with the balance a mixture of grassland, savanna and riverine forest. The
approximately 1500 people who lived in this valley have been resettled elsewhere. Since farming has ceased
in the Babai Valley, natural vegetation is regenerating, making it an area of prime habitat for wildlife.
The park provides excellent habitat for endangered animals like the rhinoceros, wild elephant, tiger, swamp deer, black buck, gharial crocodile, marsh mugger crocodile and Gangetic dolphin. Endangered birds include the Bengal florican, lesser florican, silver-eared mesia and Sarus crane. More than 30 different mammals, over 200 species of birds, and many snakes, lizards and fish have been recorded in the park's forest, grassland and river habitats. A good number of resident and migratory birds are found in the park.
Area: 106 sq. km
Established: 1976
LOCATION:
Rara National Park is located in North-West Nepal about 371 km. air distance from Kathmandu. Most of
the park, including Lake Para, lies in the Mugu District; a small area in the Jumla District of the Karnali
Zone. This is the smallest park in Nepal, containing the country's biggest lake (10.8 sq. km.) at an elevation
of 2990 m.
FEATURES:
Park elevations range from 1800 m. to 4048 m. The park contains mainly coniferous forest. The area
around the lake is dominated by blue pine, black juniper, West Himalayan spruce, oak, Himalayan cypress
and other associated species. At about 3350 m. pine and spruce give way to fir, oak and birch. Deciduous
tree species like Indian hours-chestnut, walnut and Himalayan popula are also found. A small portion of
the park serves as an ideal habitat for musk deer. Other animals found in the park include Himalayan black
bear, leopard, goral, Himalayan tahr, and wild boar. Snow trout is the only fish species recorded in the lake.
Resident Gallinaceous birds and migrant waterfowl are of interest to park visitors. The great-crested grebe,
black-necked grebe, and red-crested pochard are seen during winter. Other common birds are the snow
cock, chukor partridge, Impeyuan pheasant, kalij pheasant, and blood pheasant.
Area: 1148 sq. km.
Established: 1976
LOCATION:
Sagarmatha National Park is located to the north-east of Kathmandu in the Kumbu region of Nepal. The
park includes the highest peak in the world, Mt. Sagarmatha (Everest), and several other well-known peaks
such as Lhotse, Nuptse, Cho Oyu, Pumori, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Kwangde, Kangtaiga and Gyachung
Kang. The park was added to the list of World Heritage Sites in 1979.
FEATURES:
The mountains of Sagarmatha National Park are geologically young and broken up by deep gorges and
glacial valleys. Vegetation includes pine and hemlock forests at lower altitudes, fir, juniper, birch and
rhododendron woods, scrub and alpine plant communities, and bare rock and snow. The famed bloom of
rhododendrons occurs during spring (April and May) although other flora is most colorful during the
monsoon season (June to August).
Wild animals most likely to seen in the park are the Himalayan tahr, goral, serow and musk deer. The snow leopard and Himalayan black bear are present but rarely sighted. Other mammals rarely seen are the weasel, maren, Himalayan mouse hare (pika), jackal and langur monkey.
The park is populated by approximately 3,000 of the famed Sherpa people whose lives are interwoven with the teachings of Buddhism. The main settlements are Namche Bazar, Khumjung, Khunde, Thame, Thyangboche, Pangboche and Phortse. The economy of the Khumbu Sherpa community has traditionally been heavily based on trade and livestock herding. But with the arrival of international mountaineering expeditions since 1950 and the influx of foreign trekkers, today the Sherpa economy is becoming increasingly dependent of tourism.
Area: 499 sq. km.
Established: 1984
LOCATION:
Parsa Wildlife Reserve occupies parts of Chitwan, Makawanpur, Parsa and Bara Districts in central Nepal.
The reserve headquarters is situated at Adabar on the Hetauda-Birgunj highway.
FEATURES:
The dominant landscape of the reserve are the Churiya hills ranging from 750 m. to 950 m. and running
east-west through the reserve. The reserve has sub-tropical forest types with sal constituting 90% of the
vegetation. In the Churiya hills and along the streams, chir pine grows. Khair, sissoo and the silk cotton tree
also occur. Sabai grass, a commercially important species, grows well along southern face of the Churiya
hills.
The reserve supports a good population of resident wild elephant, tiger, leopard, sloth bear, gaur, blue bull, and wild dog. Other common animals are sambar, chital, hog deer, barking deer, langur, striped hyena, ratel, palm civet and jungle cat.
There are nearly 300 species of birds in the reserve. Giant hornbill, peafowl, red jungle fowl, flycatchers and woodpeckers are a few of the other common birds found in the reserve.
Many kinds of snakes including king cobra, common cobra, krait, rat snake and python are found in the reserve due to hot tropical climate.
Area: 175 sq. km.
Established: 1976
LOCATION:
Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve lies on the flood plains of the Sapta-Koshi in Saptari and Sunsari Districts of
Eastern Nepal. The reserve is defined by the eastern and western embankments of the river.
FEATURES:
Rapid and complete flood inundation of the reserve to depths ranging from 10 to 300 cm. occurs during the
monsoon. The Sapta-Koshi river also changes its course from one season to another.
The vegetation is mainly tall khar-pater grassland with a few patched of khair-sissoo scrub forest and deciduous mixed riverine forest.
The reserve offers an important habitat for a variety of wildlife. The last surviving population (about 100 individuals) of wild buffalo or arna are found here. Other mammals are the hog deer, wild boar, spotted deer, and blue bull.
The reserve also assists the local economy by providing fishing permits and allowing the collection of edible fruits and ferns in season.
A total of 280 different species of birds have been recorded in the reserve. These include 2 species of ducks, 2 species of ibises, many storks, egrets, herons and the endangered swamp partridges and Bengal floricans.
The Koshi barrage is extremely important as a resting place for migratory birds. Many species recorded here are not seen elsewhere in Nepal.
The endangered gharial crocodile and Gangetic dolphin have been recorded in the Koshi River.
Area: 155 sq. km; 305 sq. km after completion of the extension.
Established: Established in 1969 and gazetted in 1976.
LOCATION:
The Royal Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve is situated in the southern part of Far-Western Nepal in the
Kanchanpur District.
FEATURES:
Predominant sal associated with arna, semal, karma, khair and sissoo are found along the riverside. The
main grass species are the Imperate Cylindrica and the Saccharum Heteropogon, used extensively by the
local people for thatching.
The reserve provides a prime habitat for swamp deer. An estimated population of 2000 to 2500 of this species is found in the reserve. Other wild animals in the reserve are wild elephant, tiger, hispid hare, blue bull, leopard, chital, hog deer, and wild boar.
A total of 200 species of birds have been recorded in the reserve. Many grassland birds along with the rare Bengal florican can be seen. Marsh mugger, Indian python, monitor lizard and snakes like cobra, krait, and rat snake are recorded in the reserve.
Area: 1325 sq.. km.
Established: Established in 1983 and gazetted in 1987.
LOCATION:
Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve lies in the Rukum, Myagdi and Baglung Districts in the Dhaulagiri Himal range
in western Nepal. Putha, Churen and Gurja Himal extend over the northern boundary of the reserve.
FEATURES:
This is the only hunting reserve in the country, attracting Nepalese and foreign sports hunters with blue
sheep and other game animals. The reserve is divided into six blocs for hunting management purposes.
The reserve is characterized by alpine sub-alpine, and high temperate vegetation. Common plant species include fir, pine, birch, rhododendron, hemlock, oak, juniper and spruce. Pasture land at higher elevations occupies more than 50% of the total area of the reserve.
The reserve is one of the prime habitats for blue sheep, a highly coveted trophy. Other animals found are leopard, goral, serow, Himalayan tahr, Himalayan black bear, barking deer, wild boar, rhesus macaque, langur and mouse hare.
Pheasants and partridges are common and their viable population in the reserve permits controlled hunting. Endangered animals in the reserve include musk deer, wolf, red panda, cheer pheasant and danphe.
