Wildlife in Nepal

There are several national parks in Nepal. These parks teem with wildlife and offer a chance to experience the endemic animals and vegetation of the regions. Among the 14 national parks and wildlife reserves in Nepal, the Royal Chitwan National Park (932 sq kilometers) is the most popular safari destination among visitors.

Annapurna Conservation Area
Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) is Nepal's first and the largest conservation area. It covers an area of 7,600 sq. kilometers and is located in mid-western Nepal. It is best reached from Pokhara. The area includes 1,226 species of plants, including 38 species of orchids, 9 species of rhododendron and many varieties of fish. It is home to wildlife such as blue sheep and snow leopards. Birds include the Impeyan pheasant, and there is a rare collection of butterflies and insects. Upper Mustang and other high altitude areas are best in summer while low-altitude areas are pleasant the year round.

Royal Chitwan National Park
Nepal's first and most famous national park is situated in the Inner Terai lowlands of Chitwan. Covering an area of 932 sq. kilometers the park includes hilly areas of the Shivalik Range covered by deciduous trees. Parts of the park are floodplains of rivers Narayani, Rapti, and the Reu, covered by dense tall elephant grass, forests of silk cotton, acacia and Sisam trees. Royal Chitwan National Park was officially established in 1973 and included as World Heritage Site in 1984. The park in Chitwan is shelter to the last endangered Asian species like the one-horned rhinoceros and the Royal Bengal tiger. Other animals found here are the leopard, sloth bear, wild boar, rhesus monkey, grey langur monkey, wild dog, small wild cats, bison, the four species of deer and other small animals. Marsh crocodiles inhabit the swampy areas. The Gangetic crocodile that only feed on fish, are found in a stretch of the River Narayani. Also found here is one of the four species of fresh-water dolphins.

Kanchanjunga Conservation Area
Just below the looming mountains of Kunchanjunga 8,586 meters, lies the Kanchanjunga Conservation Area (KCA). Spread in an area of 2,035 sq. kilometers, the area is made up of alpine grasslands, rocky outcrops, dense temperate and subtropical forests, and river lowlands crowned by the peak of Kanchanjunga. It is situated in Northeast Nepal in Taplejung district, the conservation area is bordered by the Tibet Autonomous Region of China and Sikkim in India in the east. The area is a vast repository of flora and fauna. During spring the area has an excellent display of flowering glory of rhododendrons, orchids, lilies, primula and many other flowers. This is where you will see 15 of Nepal's 28 endemic flowering plants. Wildlife includes the endangered snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, musk deer, red panda, blue sheep, rhesus macaw. Impheyan pheasant, red-billed blue magpie, shy drongo are among the birds found in the area.

Sagarmatha National Park
The Sagarmatha National Park in Northeast Nepal includes the highest point on earth, Mt. Everest at 8,848 meters and other mountains Lhotse Shar, Cho Oyu, Ama Dablam, Pumori, Kangtega, Gyachung Kang, Thamserku and Kwangde. Sagarmatha National Park is 1,148 sq. kilometers in area consisting of upper areas of rivers Dudh Koshi, Bhote Koshi and Imja Khola. The rugged region with deep gorges and glaciers is locally called Khumbu, and is home to the famous Sherpas. The park was declared a World Heritage Site in 1979. Trees such as rhododendron, birch, blue pine, juniper and silver fir are found up to an altitude of 4,000 meters that give to scrub and alpine plants. In late spring and summer, the hillsides around the villages of Namche Bazaar, Khumjung, Thyangboche and Thame are splashed with the colors of different species of rhododendron in bloom  
   
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