Nepal have three conservation area for the protection of the endangered species and only hunting reserve

[ Koshi Tapu Wildlife Reserve ] [ Parsa Wildlife Reserve ] [ Royal Sukla Phant Wildlife Reserve ] [ Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve ] [ Annapurna Area Conservation Project ]

Koshi Tapu Wildlife Reserve

This is a small wildlife reserve (about 175 square kilometers) established mainly for the protection of the last survivingwild water buffaloes. The buffaloes are very ferocious and canweigh over 2,000 pounds (915 kg).

The reserve is situated in the flood plains of the Sapta KosiRiver that drains water from the highest peaks of the world.The other wild animals that found in this reserve are hog deer,spotted deer, wild boar and blue bull.

This reserve is also known as the best bird sanctuary in Nepalbecause more than 280 species of birds can be observed in thissmall island in spring. This number includes some of themigratory birds which stop here on their northward flights toTibet.

Parsa Wildlife Reserve

This wildlife reserve is mainly the extension of Royal ChitwanNational Park and was established to protect a herd of about 20wild elephants. This park also provides shelter for some oftigers displaced from Chitwan National Park. The climate,vegetation and wild animals here are similar to those in theadjacent park.

Royal Sukla Phant Wildlife Reserve

This is another small reserve established to protect endangeredswamp deer. It is situated in the far southwestern corner ofNepal. Like the Chitwan and Bardiya National Parks, thisreserve is also a flood plain -- of the Sarda River. The grassyand swampy land has provided the perfect habitat for swampdeer. There are some tigers too. The other animals found in thereserve areantelopes, leopards, wild boars and hares.

Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve

This is the only hunting reserve in Nepal. It lies in thesouthern foothills of the Dhaulagiri range. This reserve hasmany kinds of wild animal such as the ghoral, Himalayan thar,Himalayan black bear and deer. However, this reserve is famousfor blue sheep, which are highly prized trophy animals.Tourists are allowed to hunt some specific animals by paying agame fee.

Annapurna Area Conservation Project

The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) is actually a project started by the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation, a non-governmental organization funded by various trusts from all over the world. It includes the Annapurna range of the Himalayas with many peaks between 6,000-7000 m. The spectacular beauty of the Himalayan mountains viewed from close range is the main attraction of this area. This has made this area the most favored tourist destination in Nepal. More than 40,000 tourists hike this area every year.

The increasing numbers of tourists had added more pressure to the area, which already had environmental problems inflicted by the local people. Keeping this fact in mind, this project was started to protect the environment, to raise the living standard of the people and to develop an environmentally- friendly tourism program.

One important step that has been taken is that villagers are given responsibilities to manage their own forest. It is only taking the role of a matchmaker "between local communities and sources of appropriate skills, knowledge, and technical and financial assistance which enables these communities to improve the quality of their lives".

Tourists who visit this area are charged an entry fee. The fee is spent on environmental protection and community development activities. It helps villagers to start seedling nurseries, installs fuel-efficient stoves in the tourist lodges, provides management training for local lodge owners, organizes environmental awareness classes and cleaning programs. It is also helping to install micro-hydro power plants in heavily crowded tourist areas to decrease the use of fuelwood consumption.