The Asiatic Elephant is found in great numbers in the Royal
Bardia National Park in western Nepal. This park is on a traditional
elephant migratory route from the western Terai to Corbett
National Park in India. The one horned Rhinoceros can be found
in the parks along the Terai. There are very few buffalo left
in the wild (unlike parts of Africa) although there is a small
herd near the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve in the eastern
Terai. The tiger is an endangered species, and the leopard
or panther is even more elusive. And again most elusive is
the snow leopard the mammal of fables, stories and novels
and rare sightings.
Other animals include sloth bear, monkeys,
langur, lesser panda, chital or spotted deer, barking deer,
and the musk deer (in small numbers in the middle hills).
In the Royal Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve in the south west
corner of Nepal there are herds of swamp deer, with the black
buck found in the Bardia region. Near Lumbini the Blue Bull
Antelope or Nilgai has made a comeback from 2-5 animals in
the early 1990 s to nearly 200.
The wild dog, the golden jackal and the striped
hyena are there too throughout Nepal. And the ubiquitous wild
boar, a meat favoured by the Nepalese at festival time.
All the National parks of Nepal have a variety
of these animals and it is possible to have specific journeys
designed to sight some of these but as to whether you will
see the more elusive felines, that will be a matter of luck.
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