|
Introduction
| Natural History
Natural History of Nepal
The miraculous powers of nature have never left the
Himalayan country of Nepal. By virtue of its geographical
location it is a place of many ecological contrasts. The
sub-tropical evergreen forests of Sal wood in the lowlands
of the Terai and in the north Nepal has space for bamboo
thickets and rhododendrons.
Nepal's forests are dense, its wildlife varied and exotic.
One hundred and sixty species of mammals including 30
different kinds of large mammals inhabit these forests,
along with more than 800 species of birds. The mammalian
fauna of Nepal includes many unique and endangered species:
the Blue Sheep of the Dolpa region, Swamp Deer or Barasingha
of the Shukila Phanta; the Great One-horned Rhinoceros of
the Royal Chitwan National Park; the Royal Bengal Tiger of
the Terai jungles; Wild Buffalo from Koshi Tappu; Snow
Leopard, Red Panda and Musk Deer of the Himalayan region.
Apart from the fabulous and doubtful existent of the Yeti -
a mystery remaining to be discovered, other ecologically
unique Himalayan fauna include: Himalayan Tahr, Ghoral,
Himalayan Black Bear, Himalayan Marmot.
These high altitude forests are home to some of the most
amazing birds in the world, including eight different
species of spectacularly beautiful pheasants. The Danphe or
Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus) is the highest
living pheasant of Nepal and is the country's national bird.
Other species including Koklass or Phukras pheasant, Cheer
pheasant. Nepali Kaleej are also found here in the scrub
jungle between 1,500 to 8,000 ft. Red Jungle Fowl, the
ancestral stock of domestic chicken and Blue Peafowl can be
found in the lower belt. Rose finches and thrushes nest on
the grassy slopes above the glacier floor. |
