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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.
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| Flora:
By the Season |
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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’s
wort 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 Valley is 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.
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| Fauna:
By the Region
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The
Terai
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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 Bengal tiger. 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.
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| Dahlia (Send
as an e-greeting) |
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| Vegetable Zones |
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Tropical
Zone (up to 300 metres)
Sal (Shorea
robusta), deciduous moist forests of rosewood
and acacia, elephant grass, red silk cotton tree
(Bombax malarbaricum). |
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Subtropical
Zone (1,000—2,000 metres)
Chestnuts, schima, chir pine.
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Lower
Temperate Zone (1,700—2,700 metres)
Evergreen oaks, horse chestnut, maple, walnut,
blue pine forests. |
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Upper
Temperate Zone (2,400—4,000 metres)
Evergreen oaks, rhododendron forests, hemlock,
fir, blue pine forests, yew, laurel. |
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Sub-alpine
Zone (3,000—4,000 metres)
Silver fir, oak,
birch, dwarf bamboo, shrub rhododendron, juniper. |
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Alpine
Zone (4,000 metres to snow line)
Only the most tenacious wild flowers and rhizomes. |
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