| Nepal can be said to be an Asian Wild Life Safari | | | | Bear, Himalayan Black Bear, Brown Bear, Wild Boar, |
| destination. Although it occupies only 0.1 % of the | | | | Common Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Snow Leopard, |
| earth's surface, it supports globally, 4.2% of the | | | | Red Pandas, Jharal (Himalayan Mountain Goat), Bharal |
| butterfly population consisting of about 650 species. | | | | (Blue Sheep), besides other wildlife, certainly justifies |
| This of course should be a point of focus for | | | | Nepal as an Asian Safari destination. The Lo Man |
| promoting tourism directed at butterfly lovers. As far | | | | Thang region is as an attractive new destination for |
| as the popular sport of fishing is concerned, the | | | | nature tourism, as the scenery is breathtaking and |
| ‘Mahasheer', found in Nepali rivers, is a prized | | | | also due to the presence of Brown Bear and Snow |
| specimen for sports fishing and could be another | | | | Leopards. |
| focal point in efforts towards promoting endemic | | | | The physiography of Nepal ranges from as low as 67 |
| tourism. | | | | meters in the lowlands to a high of 8848 meters in |
| Shivpuri, Pokhara, Chitwan, Lumbini and Koshi Tappu | | | | the Himalayas and this extreme variation within a |
| are prime locations where many of the more than | | | | comparatively short distance has crucial effect on |
| 870 species of birds recorded in the country can be | | | | flora and fauna. The Tophe Lake (3860 meters) in |
| viewed. Koshi Tappu is the first Ramsar (wetland) | | | | Taplejung District, around which Rhododendrons |
| site to be developed in the country and there are | | | | bloom in all their splendor, Phoksundo Lake |
| plans to develop three more sites in Ghoraghodi, | | | | (3600meters), Glacial Lake in Manaslu, and the Rara |
| Jagdishpur and Beesbazar. The Sapta Koshi River, | | | | Lake (2800 meters), are especially beautiful tourist |
| along with such wetlands, provides refuge for many | | | | destinations. The deep river gorges such as the |
| migratory birds and waterfowls such as the graceful | | | | Tamur Valley and the Arun Valley, both around 2000 |
| White Ibis. The rarer Ibis Bill of upper Mustang has | | | | meters deep, demand to be seen and appreciated. |
| also been spotted in the wetlands. | | | | The Terai forests have interesting features like the |
| There are around 20 globally endangered bird species | | | | seven feet high elephant grass while the southern |
| in Nepal, including the Lesser Adjutant Storshoi. The | | | | face of the Himalayas that receives the full force of |
| Barn Owl, which is in imminent danger in many | | | | the monsoons has Deciduous, Lithocarpus pachyphylla |
| countries due to indiscriminate use of harmful | | | | (‘Baante' or Pig Oak) and Deodar forests. Fir |
| chemicals, is comparatively safe here, as is the | | | | forests are found in the Eswa Valley, and the sub |
| Eurasian Large Owl. Almost 300 species of birds can | | | | alpine pastures are happy grounds for different |
| be viewed during a two-week tour. The white | | | | flowers such as the Anemone (Marigold) Field in Tiwa |
| rumped vultures in the Terai are now in the critically | | | | Gairi (3730 meters). The northern face of the |
| endangered list of birds. The pain-killer Diclofenac | | | | Himalayas has Blue Pine forests (Chumle-2750 |
| Sodium, and its toxic effects on the kidneys, is | | | | meters) and Steppe Vegetation (above Ekla Bhatti at |
| blamed for the deaths of many vultures. | | | | 2780 meters). |
| The Eurasian Griffon (seen over open forests), Black | | | | There are 32 species of Rhododendrons in Nepal, |
| Kite (of Mustang) and the Lammergeuer (a | | | | which is 6% of the world's species. Two species are |
| magnificent eagle having a 3 meter wing span) that | | | | endemic to Nepal. Rhododendrons are especially |
| soars over the Himalayan valley and is called the | | | | abundant in Eastern Nepal and grow in regions from |
| protector of the Himalayas, are especially interesting | | | | 1500 to 5300 meters in elevation. Rhododendron |
| specimens found in Nepal. Among the large variety of | | | | arboreum (the National flower) is found in three-color |
| cranes, the Sarus Crane of Lumbini, (tallest of flying | | | | variations. Rh. cowanianium is found at 3700 meters |
| birds) is said to be the harbinger of bumper harvests | | | | (in Annapurna Sanctuary), Rh. campanulatum is found |
| as well as a happy conjugal life. The Demoiselle Crane | | | | at a height of 3600 meters as is Rh. Hoghodgonsii. |
| (locally known as ‘Karyang Kurung') are popular | | | | Rhododendron falconcrii is found at 3000 meters and |
| migratory birds that can be seen during the 2nd | | | | Rh. dalhousie in Hongong (2120 meters). |
| week of October. They travel from Dar E Salaam | | | | Out of about 365 orchid species found in Nepal, |
| over the Himalayas and on to Gujarat and Rajasthan | | | | including the popular ‘Sungava' (Dendrobium |
| in India. | | | | densiflorum), five are endemic to the country. There |
| The Suklaphanta Reserve supports the largest herd | | | | are 14 Poppy species in Nepal, which is 36% of the |
| of Swamp Deer (local name: Bara Singhe). Other deer | | | | world's species. In Eastern Nepal, at heights above |
| like Chital and Hog Deer are found in plenty all over | | | | 3000 meters, there are four species endemic to |
| the country. The largest antelope of the sub | | | | Nepal, including the Meconpsis dhowjii and M. |
| continent, the Blue Bull, can also be seen in Nepal. | | | | napoulensis. The Blue Poppy (M. horidula) is found in |
| Ancestors of the domestic buffaloes, the fierce | | | | Jaljale (3000 to 5800 meters). Mention was also |
| Arna, number about 150 in the country. The world's | | | | made of the Silk Cotton Tree (Bombex ceiba) found |
| biggest wild Cattle, the Gaur Bison, is found in the | | | | in Kushi (1300 meters) and the Aconite spicatum, |
| Churiya hills, although a large number have been killed | | | | (commonly called, ‘Bikha' because of its |
| by foot and mouth disease. But there has been | | | | poisonous nature) found in Yangle (3580 meters). |
| significant progress in the conservation and revival of | | | | The Cotton Ball plant (Samssurea gossypiphora) is |
| the rhino population, although during the 1950's and | | | | found at 3500 to 5600 meters while the Himalayan |
| 1960's, the scenario was pretty dismal in this regard. | | | | Rhubarb, which has a six month's life activity, is found |
| The presence of Rhinos, along with Tigers, Sloth | | | | at heights of 3900 to 4300 meters. |
