Nepal is a diverse and stunning Himalayan nation that undoubtedly has a diverse range of plants and animals. To ensure that plants and animals continue to exist, suitable measures must be made in light of the growing population and the impacts of global warming. One such protected place for the unique flora and animals of the area is a national park. To preserve and safeguard wildlife and their natural habitats, Nepal is home to a large number of national parks. Nepal consists of 12 National Parks, 1 Wildlife Reserve, 1 Hunting Reserve, 6 Conservation Areas, and 13 Buffer Zones extending from lowland Terai to high mountains, covering 23.39 % of the total country’s land, which contributes to in-situ.

National Parks

1.  Shey Phoksundo National Park
2.  Khaptad National Park
3.  Bardiya National Park
4. Langtang National Park
5. Sagarmatha National Park
6. Chitwan National Park
7. Makalu Barun National Park
8. Annapurna National Park
9. Rara National Park
10. Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park
11. Banke National Park
12. Shukla phanta National Park

Wildlife Reserve

1. Parsa Wildlife Reserve
2. Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve

Hunting Reserve

1. Dhorpatan hunting reserve

Conservation Area

1. Annapurna Conservation Area
2. Kanchanjunga Conservation Area
3. Manaslu Conservation Area
4. Api Nampa Conservation Area
5. Gaudi Sankher Conservation Area
6. Krisnasar Conservation Area

National Park

Shey Phoksundo National Park

Shey Phoksundo National Park is one of the oldest parks in Nepal that was established in the year 1984 to preserve the natural surroundings and animals. It is located at Palam, Dolpa District in the trans-Himalayan region of Nepal, which lies in northwest Nepal.  It is Nepal’s largest National Park covering an area of 3,555 sq km. In 1998, an area of 1349 sq km surrounding the park was declared a buffer zone, which consists of forests and private lands. Phoksundo Lake lies at an elevation of 3,660 m (12,010 ft) in the upper reaches of the Suligad river. It is surrounded by glaciers and famous for its magnificent turquoise color. Near the lake’s outlet is the country’s highest waterfall.

The park contains many Buddhist monasteries and religious sites, many of which have been renovated. Shey Gompa, the most famous, was established in the 11th century. The park is home to more than 9,000 people, and their villages are among the highest settlements on earth. The local people are subsistence farmers growing potatoes, buckwheat, mustard, beans, and some barley; and keeping livestock for food and wool. They barter with Tibetans for salt and wool. Their lifestyle is typically Tibetan. Most of them are Buddhists; the people around the Phoksundo area practice Bön. There are communal gompas in most of the villages.

Khaptad National Park

Khaptad National Park is a protected area in the Far-Western Region, established in 1984. It spans the four districts of Bajhang, Bajura, Achham, and Doti, covering 225 sq km (87 sq mi) and rising between 1,400m (4,600 ft) and 3,300m (10,800 ft) in elevation.

Khaptad Baba, a hermit, moved to the area in the 1940s, and meditated here for 50 years to become a renowned spiritual saint, therefore the national park was named after him.

Moorland, cliffs, and streams make up the scenery. There are 567 species of plants known to flourish in this protected area. Chir pine-rhododendron forest, oak forest, Himalayan fir-hemlock-oak forest, and alder woodland are a few of many vegetations found here. 23 mammals, 287 birds, and 23 amphibians and reptiles make up the fauna group. Mammals like Himalayan black bear, musk deer, wild dog, leopard; and birds like a white-rumped vulture, peregrine falcon, impeyan pheasant, etc inhabit the park.

Bardiya National Park

The Bardia National Park, a protected area in Nepal, was established in 1988. It is the largest and least altered national park in the Southern belt of Nepal, with an area of 968 sq km (374 sq mi). It is located in the Bardiya District, next to the eastern bank of the Karnali River and divided by the Babai River. The Garuda, a tributary of the Karnali River, and the Babai River serve as the natural boundaries between human settlements in the west and southeast, respectively. While the Siwalik Hills’ crest marks the area’s northern boundary, the Nepalgunj-Surkhet motorway, which partially divides the protected area’s southern boundary, causes significant disruption. 

The park has a forest that covers 70% of the national park while the other 30% is a combination of grassland, savannah, and riverine woodland.

839 kinds of plant life have been identified in the park, including 173 vascular plant species, 140 dicot species, 26 monocot species, six fern species, and one gymnosperm species. It has 642 faunal species because the diverse range of vegetation types in grassland and forests makes it an excellent habitat for these animals. There are 125 known species of fish that live in the Karnali-Babai river system, its tiny tributaries, and the numerous oxbow lakes that it supports. Gharial lives in modest numbers in the rivers. 23 species of reptiles and amphibians, excluding mugger crocodiles, have been identified.

Langtang National Park

Langtang National Park was established in 1976 as Nepal‘s first Himalayan national park and the country’s fourth protected area. It exceeds an elevation range of 6,450m (21,160 ft) and covers an area of 1,710 sq km (660 sq mi) in the Nuwakot, Rasuwa, and Sindhulpalchok Districts of the central Himalayan region encompassing 26 village communities. In the north and east, it is linked with Qomolangma National Nature Preserve in Tibet Autonomous Region.

The eastern and western boundaries follow the Rivers Bhote Koshi and the Trishuli respectively. The southern border lies 32 kms (20 mi) north of the Kathmandu Valley. The Gosainkunda lake, a holy lake of Shiva, is located at an elevation of 4,300m (14,100 ft) inside the park. The Dorje Lakpa range at 6,988m (22,927 ft) bisects the park from west-east to southeast and the summit of Langtang Lirung 7,245m (23,770 ft) is the highest point in the park.

In 1970, royal approval designated the establishment of Langtang National Park as the first protected area in the Himalayas. The national park was gazetted in 1976 and extended by a buffer zone of 420 sq km (160 sq mi) in 1998.

Langtang National Park exhibits a high diversity of 14 vegetation types in 18 ecosystem types, ranging from upper tropical forests below 1,000m (3,300 ft) m altitude to alpine scrub and perennial ice.

Sagarmatha National Park

Sagarmatha or Mt. Everest (8,848m), the highest point on Earth’s surface, and an elevation range of 6,000m encompass the Sagarmatha National Park, which spans 124,400 hectares in Nepal’s SoluKhumbu district. The park is a unique environment with stunning mountains, glaciers, deep valleys, and seven peaks over 7,000 meters, aside from Sagarmatha.

It is home to various rare animals like the red panda Himalayan black bear, snow leopard, wild dog, ghoral, serow, and more than 250 species of birds. The park is a well-known mountain tourism destination established in 1976 is home to more than 2,500 Sherpa tribes and has always been a mix of nature and culture.

The carefully preserved natural heritage and the dramatic beauty of the high, geologically young mountains and glaciers was recognized by UNESCO with the inscription of the park as a world heritage site in 1979. The National Park and Wildlife Conservation Office, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Ministry of Forests, and Government of Nepal are responsible for managing Sagarmatha National Park, which was established on July 19, 1976, under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act. The Himalayan National Park Regulations of 1978 and the National Park and Wildlife Protection Act of 1973 continue to provide robust legislative protection.

The majority of the park i.e 69% is made up of arid territory above 5,000m., with only 28% used for grazing and 3% is woods. 

Chitwan National Park

Located at the base of the Himalayas, Chitwan is home to one of the remaining populations of single-horned Asiatic rhinoceroses and one of the Bengal Tiger’s last refuges. It also contains wide variety of plants and animals.

The Chitwan National Park in the Southern Central Terai of Nepal is the first national parks of Nepal and was created in 1973.  Formerly famous as “The Royal Chitwan National Park”, it extends over the foothills covering  an area of 952.6 sq km (367.9 sq mi) over four districts: Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Parsa, and Makwanpur. This Park is home to more than 50 mammal species, over 525 birds, and 55 amphibians and reptiles. The endangered fauna found in the park is the One-horned rhinoceros, Gaur, Royal Bengal tiger, Wild elephant, Four-horned antelope, Pangolin, Golden monitor lizard, Python, etc.

Conservation of Chitwan National Park has been in place since the early 1800s. The National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act of 1973 recognized it as a national park and gave it legal protection. The Nepalese Army has stationed there to guard the parks since 1975. Additionally, the 1974 Chitwan National Park Regulation and the 1996 Buffer Zone Management Regulation sufficiently secure the preservation of natural resources, public involvement in conservation efforts, and socioeconomic advantages for those residing in the buffer zone. As a result, Chitwan National Park stands out as a prime example of how the government and community can work together to conserve biodiversity.

Makalu Barun National Park

In 1991, Sagarmatha National Park’s eastern boundary was expanded to create Makalu Barun National Park. It extends over 1500 sq km. and later in 1999 the 830 sq km buffer zone was further expanded. This protected region has an elevation range of 435m. to more than 8000m. Because of this, Makalu Barun National Park is the only protected region in the world that includes both tropical jungles and snow-capped mountains.  It includes Mt. Makalu (8,463m), the fifth-highest mountain in the world. Similarly, some of the peaks in the Makalu Region include Chamlang (7,319m), Baruntse (7,129m), and Mera Peak (6654m). 

A great variety of habitats may be found in Makalu Barun National Park, from alpine grasslands at a height of 4000m. to near-tropical monsoon forests. Almost 25 rhododendron species, 47 orchid variants, 19 bamboo species, 15 oak species, 86 fodder tree varieties and 56 rare and endangered plant species are supported by 27 different types of woods. It is also a habitat for a variety of wildlife too, there are 16 species of amphibians, 43 species of reptiles, and 315 species of butterflies.  Fishes of 78 species can be found in the park’s ponds, rivers, and lakes. Red pandas and snow leopards, the two most endangered species, call the park and its surroundings home.

Annapurna National Park

The Annapurna Conservation Area, which is the largest protected area in Nepal, was created as a protected area in 2049 B.S. (1992 AD). The King Mahendra Trust of Nature Conservation (KMTNC), a non-governmental organization supported by numerous international trusts, launched the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP). The National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) and the community in the area have worked together to manage this area. One of the main trekking areas in the nation is being developed in this region. The local community’s living conditions have significantly improved as a result of the region’s increased revenue earnings and employment prospects. Locals too actively participate in the conservation efforts but the rise in transportation and hydroelecticities of recent times is some challenge to overcome.

The Annapurna conservation area spans over five districts: Kaski, Lamjung, Myagdi, Mustang, and Manang, totaling 7629 sq km. This conservation area is situated in the northwest side of the nation and in the shadow of Annapurna himalaya range. It is home to many highest mountains on the planet and also to the deepest gorge in the world, the Kali Gandaki Valley.

This protected area has a variety of wildlife and plants. The Annapurna Conservation Area is located between 1000m. and 8000m. above sea level and home to 22 different forests consisting 1226 plant species, ranging from the subtropical sal forest to permanent snow. There are 55 indigenous plant species among them that can only be found in Nepal.

About 101 different species of mammals call the Annapurna Conservation Area home, including several endangered ones like the snow leopard, musk deer, Tibetan Argali, and Tibetan wolf. All six of Nepal’s Himalayan Pheasants can only be found here.

Rara National Park

Rara National Park is a protected area in the Himalayas of Nepal and was established in 1976. With an area of 106 sq km, its altitude ranges from 2800m to 4039m. Despite being Nepal’s smallest national park, it is an essential location for nature preservation.

The park’s primary attraction is Rara Lake, which is situated at a height of 2900m. With a surface area of 10.8 sq km and a depth of 167 m, makses it the largest lake in Nepal. In 2007, the lake was designated as a Ramsar Site. Peaks like Chuchemara (4,039m), Ruma Kand (3,731m), and Malika Kand (3,444m) feeds water to the lake as it empties into the Nijar Khola and the Karnali river.

The subalpine and temperate vegetation of the park is distinctive. Pine, birch, rhododendron, hemlock, oak, juniper, and spruce are among the frequent flora found here. The park is also home to 51 different species of mammals, including musk deer, red pandas, rhesus macaques, jackals, leopards, yellow-throated martens, and Himalayan black bears. There are 272 distinct bird species, including grebes, mallards, common teal, red-crested pochards, gulls, snow cocks, and various species of pheasants. Many migrating birds join the resident species during the winter.

Wildlife Reserve

Parsa Wildlife Reserve

Parsa National Park was established as a wildlife reserve in 1984. It covers an area of 627.39 km2 (242.24 sq mi) in the Parsa, Makwanpur, and Bara districts and ranges in altitude from 435 m (1,427 ft) to 950 m (3,120 ft) in the Siwalik Hills. It is also a protected area in the Inner Terai lowlands of south-central Nepal.

Primarily tropical and subtropical species compensate for the forests. An estimated 90% of the reserve’s vegetation is made up of sal woods. There are riverine forests along the sides of the rivers, which are home to species like the Khair and Silk Cotton Tree. Pine dominates the woodlands on the Siwalik hills’ southern side. Sabai grass, a plant with significant commercial value, thrives on the southern face of the Churia hills. Several endangered species, including the wild Asian elephant, Royal Bengal tiger, sloth bear, and leopard, have healthy populations in the reserve. The reserve is also home to blue bulls, sambars, chitals, hog deer, barking deer, langurs, rhesus macaques, striped hyenas, jungle cats, and palm civets. More than 500 bird species can find homes in the reserve.

Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve

The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve was established in 1976 to conserve the last remaining population of wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee), locally known as Arna. The protected region is home to a wide variety of species. Some 200 species of fish have been found in its ponds and waterways, the majority of which are local species. There are two species of toads, nine species of frogs, six species of lizards, five species of snakes, and eleven species of turtles. There are also gharials and mugger crocodiles.

Among the 31 species of mammals identified are the Asian elephant, spotted deer, hog deer, wild boar, smooth-coated otter, and golden jackal. Dolphins from the Ganges river have been spotted in the Koshi River. About 150 wild water buffalo, Nepal’s last remaining population, live there. 

Conservation Areas

Annapurna Conservation Area

The largest protected area in Nepal, the Annapurna Conservation Area, spans 7,629 km2 (2,946 sq mi) in the Annapurna range of the Himalayas. Its elevation spans from 790 m (2,590 ft) to the peak of Annapurna I 8,091 m (26,545 ft). The districts of Manang, Mustang, Kaski, Myagdi, and Lamjung are all included in the conservation area. The Annapurna Conservation Area, which includes Annapurna Sanctuary, is famous for a number of trekking trails, notably the Annapurna Circuit.

Kanchenjunga Conservation Area 

Kanchenjunga Conservation Area is a protected area that was established in 1997 in the Himalayas of eastern Nepal. It covers 2,035 km2 (786 sq mi) in the Taplejung District and consists of two peaks. Red-panda, Asian black bear, and snow leopard are some of the species of mammals found here. The snow cock, blood pheasant, red-billed chough, and golden-breasted fulvetta are among the birds that are considered emblematic of the region.

Manaslu Conservation Area

The Manaslu Conservation Area is a protected area in Nepal that was established in 1998. It covers 1,663 kkm2 in the Mansiri Himal range of the Himalayas in the Gorkha District. The area comprises mountains, glaciers, and watercourses. In elevation, the area ranges from 1,400 to 8,156 m. This conservation area is home to 33 species of mammals, including snow leopards, musk deer, and Himalayan tahr. 

Api Nampa Conservation Area

The API-Nampa Conservation Area is a protected area in Far-Western Nepal that was established in 2010 and covers 1,903 km2, encompassing 21 Village Development Committees in the Darchula district. It was also established to preserve the region’s distinctive biodiversity and cultural history and was named after the two peaks, “Api” and “Nampa”. It is inhabited by over 50,000 people living in 8966 households. The area’s heart is a plateau of grass blended with different kinds of forests. Animals like snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, red panda, common langur, Himalayan tahr, Himalayan musk deer, goral, and serow reside here. It’s home to birds like Himalayan monal, snowcock, and blood pheasant.

Gaurishankar Conservation Area 

Gaurishankar Conservation Area is a protected area in the Himalayas of Nepal that was established in January 2010. The Gaurishankar protected area connects the Langtang and Sagarmatha National Parks too. The Shyama, Suri, Chankhu, Marbu, Khare, Orang, Bulung, Laduk, Chilankha, Aalampu, Bigu, Kalinchok, Lamabagar, and Gaurishankar VDCs (Village Development Committee) of Dolakha district also fall within its boundaries. The biodiversity of the Gaurishankar Conservation Area is abundant. 16 different types of vegetation viz. forests of Pinus roxburghii, Schima-Castanopsis, Alnus, Pinus wallichiana, Pinus patula, Rhododendron, Quercus lanata, and temperate mountain oak woodland, are ubiquitous in the region.

Krishnasaar Conservation Area

The Krishnasaar Conservation Area was established in 2009, covering an area of 15.95 sq. km in the Bardia district. This is the first organized initiative to conserve the endangered Blackbuck (Antelope cervicapra cervicapra). The animal is one of the protected species under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act of 1973. This particular herd is the northernmost surviving herd of blackbucks in the world. The herd had 202 members in 2009, including 73 males, 111 females, and 18 calves. From 1995–1997, the government of Nepal created private land for blackbuck conservation.

Hunting Reserve

Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve

Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, established in 1983 and gazetted in 1987 adjoins Rukum, Myagdi, and Baglung Districts in the Dhaulagiri Himal range in West Nepal. The reserve’s management goals include preserving a representative high-altitude ecological balance in West Nepal and legalizing sports hunting. The reserve is divided into six blocks for hunting management purposes. The landscape is covered with marshland (called ḍhor), and flat meadows (called pāṭan).

Inside this reserve, 58 vascular plants have been identified. There are 36 species of unique flowering plants. The snow leopard, musk deer, red panda, and blue sheep are one of the 18 species of mammals. The koklass pheasant, cheer pheasant, and impeyan pheasant are three of the 137 bird species that exist. We can also observe two species of reptiles in this hunting reserve.

Featured photo: Alexandrine Parakeet Fly Pass Manaslu Range by THC Nepal