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Flora & Fauna of Nepal
By arrna Published: 07/31/2010
The tiny country of Nepal is situated in the Himalayan Mountain ranges and hence it has a lot of variety in flora and fauna. One can find exquisite varieties of flowers in Nepal which are not found anywhere else in the world. Nepal has a rich biodiversity and many of its plants and flowers have demonstrated medicinal properties that have been used by the local people for years. In Nepal there are more than 6500 varieties of flowers along with trees and bushes. The threat of rising environment hazard is posing a great danger to the rare species of flowers and plants in Nepal and hence the Nepalese government has initiated some protective measures to ensure that the rare varieties of flowers in Nepal do not go extinct.
Nepal’s wildly varying ecosystems support a vast range of vegetation and wildlife. This includes over 6,500 known species of trees, shrubs and wildflowers, more than 800 bird species (at nearly 10 per cent of the entire world’s bird species, the figure is higher than that of Canada and the United States combined!), and a large number of reptiles and mammals.
There are several reasons for the tremendous diversity of plant and animal species found in Nepal. Its phenomenal topography contains ecological zones that in most other parts of the world, are separated by thousands of kilometres. Nepal’s geographical location, climate, altitude and aspect all combine to make it a nature lover’s paradise.
Season Talks
The flowers start blooming in Nepa lat the end of winter and in the monsoon season the surrounding landscape comes alive with the blooming of flowers. In the valleys that are located in the higher mountain ranges one see the growth of such indigenous flowers such as buttercups, cinquefoils, scrophs, polygonums, cinquefoils, composites and mints. As the climate gets warmer, the flowers in the subtropics began to bloom. March and April are the main months in Nepal which is known as the flower season and the rhododendrons fully blossom during this month. Other flowers like orchids, blue irises, lavender primuds and big white magnolias also are found in Nepal. In July and August the western region of Nepal thrives with great scenes of flowers.
The region that is comparatively low in elevation in Nepal has flower varieties like roses, orchids, edelweiss, campanlas, impatiens, anemones, and corydalis. The alpine area of Nepal has flower varieties like sediums, saxifrages proliferate, larkspurs and poppies. One can also find in the Himalaya region flower varieties such as caragana, ionicera and astragalus. The floral vegetation of Nepal withers away as the monsoon ends in the months of October and November, however in the sub-tropical region one can still find flowers that include pink luculia, mauve osbeckia and also yellow St John’swort. Nepal boasts of more than three hundred varieties of orchids. The Nepalese call the Eupatorium ban mara which means death to the forest. This particular flower is like a daisy that has a red stem and leaves in the shape of heart. Although it is not indigenous to Nepal, it has now flourished well in the country.
When it comes to orchids, Nepal is the paradise for this variety of flowers because the region has a moist atmosphere and cloudy forest that is conducive for the growth of orchids. Orchids are like the national treasure of Nepal and it has attracted collectors so much so that some have also attempted heists for securing the rare wild varieties of orchids. Smuggling of orchids in Nepal is a flourishing business and hence if Nepal is the paradise for orchids it is also the paradise of orchid smugglers. The indigenous wild orchids of Nepal are smuggled to its neighboring country India from where it is exported to the Europe and the United States. There are 386 registered orchid varieties in Nepal and each year three to four and even more varieties of orchids are discovered in Nepal. One can find only in Nepal eight endemic orchid species and hence orchids are the most important flower varieties of Nepal.
The indigenous orchids of Nepal are famous all over the world and the export of the tissue culture of such orchids seems the way for the experts to stop the illegal trafficking of the indigenous orchids of Nepal. The vase life of the orchids is quite long and if they are kept in the right condition they can remain fresh for as many as six to eight weeks. Given the demand for the orchids of Nepalit has become a lucrative business venture for many in Nepal.
Steps taken to prevent the flora
In order to save the indigenous varieties of Nepal’s flowers, the government has set up many gardens and separate areas in the Royal Botanical Garden. There is also the conservation and education garden with which one can learn how to protect and save the endangered species of flowers. The flower show arranged at the garden is also another good way to save the species on the brink of extinction. Greater awareness is created in the minds of the visitors about the rare species of Nepalese indigenous flowers.
Flora: By the Season
March/ April
Nepal comes alive with the spectacular colours of nature – rhododendrons, huge magnolias, orchids (there are over 300 species in Nepal) blue irises, lavender primulas and a variety of shrubs burst into bloom.
July/ August (Monsoon)
This is when you can marvel at the true colours of the Himalayas, particularly the southern slopes and the inner valleys, which are lush with mints, scrophs, buttercups, cinquefoils and polygonums. The temperate and alpine zones abound in dwarf rhododendrons, junipers, ephedras, cotoneasters, saxifrages and primulas.
These months are also the best time to visit Western Nepal. As it falls in the rain-shadow area, monsoon conditions ensure that the region is dry and free of leeches. The Dolpo area in particular, has a rich variety of flora. Jumla east is filled with ground orchids, edelweiss, corydalis, campanulas, anemones, forget-me-nots, impatiens and roses. Higher up in the alpine regions, larkspurs, geraniums, poppies, sedums and saxifrages proliferate.
Common vegetation in the trans-Himalayas is primarily from the legume family, such as the spiny caragana and astragalus, and lonicera from the honeysuckle family.
Post-monsoon
Although this is the time most people choose to travel to Nepal, it is also the period in which most of the flowers of summer are gone. However, wild flowers such as luculia, osbeckia and St. John’swort usually survive in the subtropical and lower temperate areas. There are also the autumn yellows of maple and ginger leaves, and the reds of barberry shrubs to enjoy.
The temperate forests are a joy to behold in the dark. When they are backlit, the moss, epiphtic ferns and orchids seem almost luminescent and other-worldly.
The Kathmandu Valleyis filled with silky oak, bottlebrush and eucalyptus, which are planted as ornamentals in their adoptive land along with cherry, poplar, jacaranda, bougainvillaea and giant poinsettias. Nepalis have always had a passion for gardening and exotic plants such as hibiscus, camellia, cosmos and marigold are abundant.
Fauna: By the Region
The Terai
Eight species of storks and somewhat fewer species of cranes have been identified along the watercourses of the Kali Gandaki and the Dudh Kosi rivers. Herons and egrets are quite common in the tropical and sub-tropical areas. Migratory waterfowl can be seen at the Kosi Barrage in the eastern Terai and in the Chitwan and Bardia areas. The bar-headed goose has been observed at altitudes of about 8,000 metres. Timalids or babblers and laughing thrushes are common in the tropical Terai and the upper temperate forest.Royal Chitwan National Park of the Inner Terai and Royal Bardia National Park in the western Terai protect sufficient habitat to sustain viable populations of the royal Bengaltiger. The one-horned rhino, the largest of three Asian species, is a denizen of the grasslands of the Inner Terai, specifically the Chitwan Valley, although it has also been reintroduced to Royal Bardia National Park. The western part of the Terai and Chure hills is home to the only wild elephants to be found in Nepal. Two indigenous species of crocodile – the gharial and marsh mugger – inhabit the Terai. The majority of snake species, including venomous ones such as cobras, vipers and kraits are also found in the Terai.
The hills and mountains
Some of Nepal’s most beautiful flora and fauna can be found in its hills and mountains. Birds of prey and carrion eaters of all sizes are found in the Himalayas. These include the Eurasian kestrel, Himalayan griffon, and a large number of eagle species such as the golden eagle. Of the over 600 species of birds that can be found here, there are six species of pheasant in Nepal, including the impeyan pheasant, which is the national bird. The yellow-billed cough is known to enter mountaineers’ tents high on Everest. The snow leopard inhabits inhospitable domains above the tree line, competing for space with packs of wolves. Also found here are the spotted leopard, barking deer, Himalayan tahr and the blue sheep. The omnivorous Himalayan black bear rarely attacks humans, but is a bane to crops. Jackals can be found from the Terai to the alpine region. The mountain pit viper and a few other non-venomous species of snakes can also be found in the higher regions.
Nepal's flora and fauna can be divided into four regions:-
1. Tropical Deciduous Monsoon Forest:
2. Subtropical Mixed Evergreen Forest:
3. Temperate Evergreen Forest:
4. Subalpine and Alpine Zone:
Ranging from the subtropical forests of the Terai to the great peaks of the Himalayas in the north, Nepal abounds with some of the most spectacular sceneries in the whole of Asia, with a variety of fauna and flora also unparalleled elsewhere in the region. Between NepalÕs geographical extremes, one may find every vegetational type, from the treeless steppes of the Trans-Himalayan region in the extreme north and the birch, silver fir, larch and hemlock of the higher valleys to the oak, pine and rhododendron of the intermediate altitudes and the great sal and sissau forests of the south.
The rolling densely forested hills and broad Dun valleys of the Terai along with other parts of the country, were formerly, renowned for their abundance and variety o wildlife. Though somewhat depleted as a result of agricultural settlements, deforestation, poaching and other causes, Nepal can still boast richer and more varied flora and fauna than any other area in Asia. For practical purposes, NepalÕs flora and fauna can be divided into four regions:-
1. Tropical DeciduousMonsoon Forest:
This includes the Terai plains and the broad flat valleys or Duns found between successive hill ranges. The dominant tree species of this area are Sal (Shorea Robusta), sometimes associated with Semal (Bombax malabricum), Asna (Terminalia termentosa), Dalbergia spp and other species, and Pinus rosburghi occurring on the higher ridges of the Churia hills, which in places reach an altitude of 1800m. Tall coarse two-meter high elephant grass originally covered much of the Dun valleys but has now been largely replaced by agricultural settlements. The pipal (ficus religiosa) and the ÔbanyanÕ (ficus bengalensis) are to be noticed with their specific natural characteristics. This tropical zone is Nepal's richest area for wildlife, with gaurs, buffaloes, four species of deer, tigers, leopards and other animals found in the forest areas rhinoceros, swamp deer and hot deer found in the valley grasslands and two species of crocodile and the Gangetic dolphin inhabiting the rivers. The principal birds are the peacock, jungle fowl and black partridge, while migratory duck and geese swarm on the ponds and lakes and big rivers of Terai. Terai forests are full of jasmin, minosa, accecia reeds and bamboo.
2. Subtropical Mixed Evergreen Forest:
This includes the Mahabharat Lekh, which rises to a height of about 2400m and comprises the outer wall of the Himalayan range. Great rivers such as the Karnali, Narayani, and Sapta Koshi flow through this area into the broad plains of the Terai. This zone also includes the so-called Ômiddle hillsÕ which extend northwards in a somewhat confused maze of ridges and valleys to the foot of the great Himalayas. Among the tree species characteristic of this region are Castenopsis indica in association with Schima wallichii, and other species such as Alnus nepalensis, Acer oblongum and various species of oak and rhododendron which cover the higher slopes where deforestation has not yet taken place. Orchids clothe the stems of trees and gigantic climbers smother their heads. The variety and abundance of the flora and fauna increase progressively with decreasing altitude and increasing luxurance of the vegetation. This zone is generally poor in wildlife. The only mammals, which are at all widely distributed, are wild boar, barking deer, serow, ghoral and bears. Different varieties of birds are also found in this zone. Different varieties of birds are also found in this zone.
3. Temperate Evergreen Forest:
Northward, on the lower slopes and spurs of the great Himalayas, oaks and pines are the dominant species up to an altitude of about 2400m above which are found dense conifer forests including Picea, Tusga, Larix and Abies spp. The latter is usually confined to higher elevations with Betula typically marking the upper limit of the tree line. At about 3600 to 3900m, rhododendron, bamboo and maples are commonly associated with the coniferous zone. Composition of he forest varies considerably with coniferous predominating in the west and eracaceous in the east. The wildlife of this region includes the Himalayan bear, serow, ghoral, barking deer and wildboar, with Himalayan tahr sometimes being seen on steep rocky faces above 2400m. The red panda is among the more interesting of the mammals found in this zone; it appears to be fairly distributed in suitable areas of the forest above 1800m. The rich and varied avifauna of this region includes several spectacular and beautiful pheasants, including the Danfe pheasant, Nepal's national bird.
4. Subalpine and Alpine Zone:
Above the tree line, rhododendron, juniper scrub and other procumbent woody vegetation may extend to about 4200m where it is then succeeded by t a tundra-like association of short grasses, sedge mosses and alpine plants wherever there is sufficient soil. This continues up to the lower limit of perpetual snow and ice at about 5100m. The mammalian faun is sparse and unlikely to include any species other than Himalayan marmots, mouse hare, tahr, musk deer, snow leopard and occasionally blue sheep. In former times, the wild Yak and great Tibetan sheep could also be sighted in this region and it is possible that a few may still be surviving in areas such as Dolpa and Humla. The bird life at such as lammergeyer, snowcock, snowpatridge, choughs and bunting, with redstarts and dippers often seen along the streams and rivulets. Yaks are the only livestock, which thrive at high altitude. They serve both back and draught animals. The cheeses prepared out of the milk are edible for months. The female Yak provides milk to the Sherpas.
Of the wonderful flora and fauna must suffice to indicate what a paradise Nepal is to the lovers of wild animal and bird life, to the naturalists and to the foresters.Rhododendron Flower, National Flower of Nepal
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