Endangered Species In Nepal

  • Anna
  • 29th Mar, 2021

With diverse climate and geography, Nepal is land to many unique species and due to poaching, climate changes. Human encroachment in the natural habitat of animals caused endangered species. There are many animals that are on the verge of extinction.

Nepal is a country that lies on the lap of the Himalayas between two big countries, India and China. This country only covers 0.03% of the planet earth and 0.3% in Asia but the diversity in culture, climate, and geography is amazing. Moving from one region to another you will feel like you are in a different country.

The diverse topographies house some of the endangered and rare species of flora and fauna in the world. But because of the destruction of habitat, overhunting, poaching and climate change many species are at the risk of extinction. Most animals targeted because of high-value products that can make from those species. Teeth, skins, tusks of such rare animals used in ornaments and luxury clothing. They even used some bones in the synthesis of ancient Japanese and Chinese Drugs. Due to poaching and hunting, there were as low as 198 tigers in the whole of Nepal and another species of crocodiles; Gharial was almost extinct because of the excessive water pollution and dying of fishes.

Humans have started being more conscious about the outcomes because it causes an imbalance in nature. Therefore organizations are working on it and the government is also emphasizing the protection of such animals.

Here we have made a list of 5 endangered species of Nepal:

Red Panda (Ailurusfulgens)

Red Panda


The red panda is found in the temperate Himalayan forests of Western Nepal and higher in the mountain slopes of southwestern China as well. The red panda is a mostly herbivorous mammal that eats bamboo. Red pandas are unlike the large black and white pandas as they look like raccoons. They weigh up to 6kg and are about 50-63 cm in length when fully grown. They spend most of their time in the trees. This species is endangered due to the loss of habitat caused by deforestation and clearance for land, fuel, and timber.

Snow Leopard (Unciauncia)

Snow Leopard

Snow Leopard, found in the mountainous regions of Mugu, Mustang, Humla, and Dolpo. We know it for its smoky grey fur coat covered with dark grey spots. It weighs around 35-55 kg and grows up to 1.8 to 2.3 meters. This Animal is among the endangered species because they poach it for its pones and pelts that are used for making medicines. Similarly, skin and fur used as luxury items. Besides these, the effect of global warming and inference of human activities have affected the number of Snow Leopard.

Gharial (Gavialiisgangeticus)


The gharial is among one of the most endangered crocodile species in the world. During the monarchial rule system, the kings themselves used to hunt these. Although now hunting these is illegal, there are other factors like water pollution affecting the number of these animals. They were hunted heavily and their eggs were collected for medicinal purposes because of which almost came to the point of extinction. However, now the government has started a breeding program in Chitwan national park that has helped to increase the number of these species to a few hundred. As many as 1,240 gharials have been released into the wild since the program but because of water pollution, it remains at around 124. It is also believed that 70% of them go down the river to India.

Bengal Tiger (Pantheratigristigris)

Royal Bengal Tiger


Bengal Tiger, native to the Indian sub-continent and known to be the most ferocious tigers among others. They can measure up to 3 meters in length and up to 250 kg. This species endangered and moving towards extinction because they poached and hunted for its skin and bones. In a census done in 2018, it was found that there are about 235 Bengal tigers in Nepal. They face a significant threat of going extinct therefore they are one of the most endangered species in Nepal.

Pangolin (Pholidata)

Pangolins


Pangolins are the most trafficked species in the entire world. It is the only mammal that is covered in scales, which is commonly known as “Salak” in Nepal. This animal has been around for around 80 million years, so it’s also known as a living fossil. About 20% of the illegal wildlife trade accounted for Pangolins. Their keratin scales, highly prized in China to make medicine and sold as high as $3,000 per kilogram. We protected it in Nepal as a huge fine and they give jail time to the ones who caught killing, poaching, transporting, or buying it.

Besides all these animals there other endangered species in Nepal. One-horned Rhinoceros, Asian elephant, Himalayan Musk Deer, Swamp Deer, Dour-horned Antelope, Clouded Leopard, Himalayan Lynx, and many more that need to be conserved.