Nepal has great diversity in its animal wildlife. Nepal has different climatic conditions, from near tropical conditions in the plains to near arctic conditions in the upper Himalayas, that too within a span of 200 kms.
Its wildlife biodiversity is also due to its having radically different ecoregions such as, plains, savanna and grasslands, foothills, wetlands, water bodies like Rara lake (Mahendra Daha), dense forests, pine forests, glaciers and river systems, mountain and gorges and snow and ice covered upper Himalayas.
This has lead to Nepal having a large variety in wildlife, of both plants and animals. To conserve and protect its wildlife, the government has established numerous national parks and reserves. The offshoot of having so many conservation parks and reserves is wildlife tourism.
Wildlife tours, wildlife trails and trekking to see the animals in their natural habitat has become a boon for Nepal's tourism industry. The spiny babbler, a species of bird in the Leiothrichidae family is endemic to this country and it is only occurs here.
Nepal animal - Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)
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1.Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)
Picture: Hollingsworth, John and Karen/public domain |
The Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is the greatly established subspecies of tiger. It is estimated that Nepal has about 250 of these animals in its wildlife reserves. The Bengal tiger is classified as endangered species by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The tiger reserves, Chitwan National Park and Parsa Wildlife Reserve in Nepal are contiguous in the south with Indian Tiger Reserve, Valmiki National Park.
Nepal wildlife - Bengal fox (Vulpes bengalensis)
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2.Bengal fox (Vulpes bengalensis)
Picture by A. T. Vanak/CC BY 3.0 |
The Bengal fox (Vulpes bengalensis), also known as the Indian fox, is endemic to the Indian subcontinent. The Bengal fox is found in the Terai plains and foothills of Himalayas in Nepal. The Bengal fox is a small fox with an elongated muzzle and long, pointed ears. The animal's bushy tail is nearly half the length of its head and body. A black patch is present at the tip of the muzzle as well as the tip of the tail.
Nepal animal - Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)
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3.Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)
Picture by Vearl Brown/CC BY-SA 2.0 |
The clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) is found in the foothills of Himalayas in Nepal. Its habitat extends to mainland Southeast Asia and China. The clouded leopard is classified by IUCN in 2008 as vulnerable species. It is estimated that less then 10,000 mature clouded leopards exist in the wild. The habitat loss due to deforestation and hunting of the animals for their skin is endangering these animals.
Nepal wildlife - Corsac fox (Vulpes corsac)
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4.Corsac fox (Vulpes corsac)
Picture: Wim Stam/public domain |
The corsac fox (Vulpes corsac) is a medium-sized fox, distributed widely in the central Asia, China and Mongolia. In Nepal, corsac fox is found in open grassy steppes and grasslands. It has grayish yellow fur on its body which is paler on the underparts. In winter the fur becomes, longer, thicker, silkier with pale straw color. A darker line runs down the back.
Nepal animal - Red panda (Ailurus fulgens)
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5.Red panda (Ailurus fulgens)
Picture by Greg Hume/CC BY-SA 3.0 |
The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is a small arboreal animal native to eastern Himalayas and South-western China and Nepal. IUCN has classified the red panda as vulnerable. The red panda population of less than 10,000 is dwindling sharply due to habitat loss and poaching. The red panda has brown coat which is darker on the underside. The red panda is mostly nocturnal and active in the night.
Nepal wildlife - Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis)
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6.Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis)
Picture by Yathin S Krishnappa/CC BY-SA 3.0 |
The Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is also known as Indian one-horned rhinoceros is classified by IUCN as vulnerable species. Main population is restricted to Terai riverine grasslands in the foothills of Himalayas in Nepal and north-eastern Assam state in India. Their population had dwindled due to habitat loss and poaching for their horns. The Indian rhinoceros population in Nepal is around 500 animals.
Nepal animal - Snow leopard (Panthera uncia)
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7.Snow leopard (Panthera uncia)
Picture by Bernard Landgraf/CC BY-SA 3.0 |
The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is distributed in the mountainous regions of central Asia and Himalayan Asia. The snow leopard is usually observed at 3,000+ meter elevations in the Himalayan Nepal. The snow leopard is adapted to cold mountainous habitat. The fur of the animal is long and thick and the ears are small and rounded to reduce heat loss. To suit mountainous life they have stocky body and short legs.
Nepal wildlife - Indian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus)
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8.Indian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus)
Picture by Yathin S Krishnappa/CC BY-SA 3.0 |
The Indian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus) are native to mainland Asia, including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar. IUCN has classified the Indian elephant as endangered species. There is decline in the population of these animals due to habitat degradation and loss.
In the Bardia National Park the Indian elephant population had risen from 25 to 50 animals in a decade. About 60 animals were estimated to reside in the Karnali floodplain and the Babai Valley.
Nepal animal - Gaur or Indian Bison (Bos gaurus)
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9.Gaur or Indian Bison (Bos gaurus)
Picture by Dineshkannambadi/CC BY-SA 3.0 |
The gaur (Bos gaurus), also called Indian bison is classified by IUCN as vulnerable. Earlier Gaur was distributed throughout Asia. Presently the animal population is restricted to pockets due to wildlife habitat loss. In Nepal, gaur are found primarily in Chitwan National Park and the adjacent Parsa Wildlife Reserve. Chitwan wildlife reserve is estimated to have 300 animals and Parsa wildlife reserve is estimated to have 40 animals.
Nepal wildlife - Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)
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10.Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)
Picture by Jean-noël Lafargue/Free Art License |
The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is a large bear distributed across much of Europe, north and central Asia and north America. The Himalayan brown bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus) is the subspecies of brown bear. These animals are found in Nepal, India, Pakistan and Tibet. They are not endangered. However brown bears are considered to have become extinct in Bhutan.
3.Clouded leopard image source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Clouded_leopard.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/80835774@N00/80431587/
Current topic in Holiday travel and tourism blog: Pictures of wildlife and animals of Nepal.
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