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Friday, December 1, 2006

National Parks and Wildlife Reserves – Part I – Bird-eye view series of Nepal (This will be presented in 4 parts in this series)

NEPAL - WILDLIFE RESERVE

There are 16 national parks, wildlife reserves and conservation areas in Nepal, occupying over 16% of its total area. Trekking permits are necessary to trek in the national parks located in the mountains

1. ANNAPURNA CONSERVATION AREA PROJECT – ACAP (7,629 sq km) encompasses forested middle mountains, high Himalaya and trans-Himalayan desert plateau ecosystems. The area is dominated by Annapurna (8, 091 m), the 10th highest mountain in the world. Schima and chestnut trees are found in the subtropical forests between 1,000-2,000 m which give way to rhododendron, oak, hemlock, and silver fir as you ascend to the temperate zone (1,700-3000 m). Rhesus monkeys, yellow-throated marten, and Himalayan weasels are some of the wildlife commonly encountered. Birds include the Himalaya griffon, lammergeyer, forktail, redstart, thrush, and kingfisher. Gurung, Magar, Thakali, and Brahmin villages dot the lower elevations. The Tibetan cultural influence becomes stronger as you go north.
Activities: Trekking, mountaineering.
Accommodation: Resort hotels, lodges, camping.
Access: From Pokhara which is 202 km by road or 30 minutes by air from Kathmandu.
Best season: Spring and autumn in the southern region and summer in the northern region.
ACAP headquarters: Hariyo Kharka, Pokhara; Tel: 061-521102

2. DHORPATAN HUNTING RESERVE (1,325 sq km) extends from the middle mountains to the high Himalaya. Pasturelands cover the higher elevations while fir, pine, birch, rhododrondon, hemlock, oak, juniper, and spruce are found in the lower elevations. The reserve attracts sports hunters for the blue sheep and Himalayan Tahr. Other animals found here are the leopard, ghoral, serow, Himalayan black bear, barking deer, and wild boar. Pheasants and partridges are common here. The majority of the people in the region belong to the Magar, Thakali, and Gurung ethnic groups.
Activities: Trophy hunting, game viewing.
Accommodation: Camping.
Access: Four days’ walk from Baglung which is 72 km from Pokhara by road.
Best season: March-April, Oct-Sep (monsoon), Dec-Feb (cold, windy, snow).
Reserve headquarters: Dhorpatan.

3. KANCHENJUNGA CONSERVATION AREA (2,035 sq km) includes middle mountains and the high Himalaya. It offers high alpine vegetation and a variety of rhododrondon, fir, hemlock, and oak trees. The area is rich in wildlife, notably the snow leopard, clouded leopard, blue sheep, Himalayan tahr, marmot, and weasel. Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world at 8,586 m, straddles the border between Nepal and India. This region is the home of the Limbu people.
Activities: Trekking, mountaineering
Accommodating: Tea houses, camping
Access: Spring and autumn
Park headquarters: Lelep

4. KHAPTAD NATIONAL PARK (225 sq km) consists of middle and high mountains with an average elevation of 3,000 m. The vegetation ranges from sub-tropical forests at lower altitudes to grasslands and oak and coniferous forests on the uplands. The fauna includes the leopard, yellow-throated marten, black deer, musk deer, ghoral, and Himalayan tahr. Some of the birds found here are the pheasants, partridge, red- and yellow-billed blue magpie and Himalayan griffon. The ashram of Khaptad Swami is located inside the park.
Activities: Trekking
Accommodation: Camping
Access: Fly to Dipayal from Nepalgunj and then a three-day walk
Best season: Mar-May and Oct-Nov (10-20 degrees Celsius); Jun-Sep (rainy), Dec-Feb (snow)
Park headquarters: Khaptad

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