Shivapuri National Park
Encyclopedia
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park is the ninth national park in Nepal
and was established in 2002. It is located in the country's mid-hills on the northern fringe of the Kathmandu Valley
and named after Shivapuri Peak of 2732 m (8,963.3 ft) altitude. It covers an area of 159 km² (61.4 sq mi) in the districts of Kathmandu
, Nuwakot
and Sindhupalchowk
, adjoining 23 Village Development Committees.
. Temperatures vary from 2–17 °C (35.6–62.6 °F) during the winter season, rising to 19–30 °C (66.2–86 °F) during the summer season.
The typical vegetation of the park is middle hill forest from 1000 metre of altitude, consisting of:
On higher elevation a variety of medicinal herb
s prosper. Botanists have recorded 129 species of mushrooms and 2,122 floral species, out of which 449 are vascular
and 16 are endemic plants.
, Jungle cat
, Large Indian civet
, Golden jackal
, Himalayan black bear, Yellow-throated marten, Small Asian mongoose, Himalayan goral, Barking deer, Wild boar, Rhesus monkey, Hanuman langur, Chinese pangolin
, Indian Crested porcupine, Himalayan pika
, Black-naped hare
, Himalayan squirrel, Fawn-colored mouse, Brown-toothed shrew
and Black rat were identified. Signs of Clouded leopard
and Leopard cat
, thought to be present, were not observed.
In 2008, Intermediate Horseshoe, Greater Horseshoe
and Big-eared Horseshoe bats
were mist net
ted at the entrance of Nagarjuna cave inside the park.
In the western part of the park, herpetologists
encountered Monocled cobra, Himalayan keelback
, Olive Oriental Slender snake
, Yellow-bellied Worm-eating snake
, Variegated Mountain lizard
, Oriental garden lizard, Many-keeled Grass skink, Sikkim skink
, Black-spined toad, Long-legged Cricket frog
and Horned frog
in the summer of 2009.
Ornithologists
recorded 318 species of birds including Eurasian eagle-owl, Slender-billed Scimitar-babbler
, White-gorgeted flycatcher
, Barred cuckoo-dove
and Golden-throated barbet
.
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
and was established in 2002. It is located in the country's mid-hills on the northern fringe of the Kathmandu Valley
Kathmandu Valley
The Kathmandu Valley , located in Nepal, lies at the crossroads of ancient civilizations of Asia, and has at least 130 important monuments, including several places of pilgrimage for the Hindus and the Buddhists. There are seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites within this valley.-Etymology:The city of...
and named after Shivapuri Peak of 2732 m (8,963.3 ft) altitude. It covers an area of 159 km² (61.4 sq mi) in the districts of Kathmandu
Kathmandu District
Kathmandu District is a district located in Kathmandu Valley, Bagmati Zone of Nepal, a landlocked country in South Asia. It is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal, covers an area of 395 km2 and is the most densely populated district of Nepal with a population of 1,081,845 in 2001...
, Nuwakot
Nuwakot District
Nuwakot District of 288,478.The district contains places of historical significance such as Nuwakot Palace located in the village of Nuwakot and Devighat located at the confluence of the Tadi and Trishuli Rivers.-Towns and villages:...
and Sindhupalchowk
Sindhulpalchok District
Sindhupalchok District is a part of Bagmati Zone and one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal, with an area of . The district's headquarters is in Chautara...
, adjoining 23 Village Development Committees.
History
The area has always been an important water catchment area, supplying the Kathmandu Valley daily with several hundred thousands cubic liter of water. In 1976, the area was established as a protected watershed and wildlife reserve. In 2002, it was gazetted as Shivapuri National Park, initially covering 144 km² (55.6 sq mi), and extended by the Nagarjun Forest Reserve in early 2009 to its present size.Climate
The park is located in a transition zone between subtropical and temperate climate. The annual precipitation of about 1400 mm (55.1 in) falls mostly from May to September, with 80% during monsoonMonsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
. Temperatures vary from 2–17 °C (35.6–62.6 °F) during the winter season, rising to 19–30 °C (66.2–86 °F) during the summer season.
Vegetation
- Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forestsHimalayan subtropical broadleaf forestsThe Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests is an ecoregion that extends from the middle hills of central Nepal through Darjeeling into Bhutan and also into the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh...
in the lower and upper subtropical bioclimatic zone dominated by SchimaSchima[[Schima is a [[genus]] of evergreen trees belonging to the tea family, [[Theaceae]].The genus inhabits warm temperate to subtropical climates across southern and southeastern Asia, from the eastern [[Himalaya]] of [[Nepal]] and eastern [[India]] across [[Indochina]], southern [[China]],...
-CastanopsisCastanopsisCastanopsis is a genus of evergreen trees belonging to the beech family, Fagaceae. The genus contains about 120 species, which are today restricted to tropical and subtropical eastern Asia. A total of 58 species are native to China, with 30 endemic; the other species occur further south, through...
associations, with chir pineChir PineThe Chir Pine, Pinus roxburghii, named after William Roxburgh, is a pine native to the Himalaya.The range extends from northern Pakistan , across northern India and Nepal to Bhutan.It generally occurs at lower altitudes than other pines in the Himalaya, from...
stands on southern dry ridges and associations of alder, Wild Himalayan cherryPrunus cerasoidesPrunus cerasoides is a deciduous cherry tree found in East Asia. It is of the family Rosaceae and the genus Prunus. Its range extends in the Himalayas from Himachal Pradesh in India to southwest China and Burma. It grows in the forests from 1200 to 2400 metres above sea level.-Description:P...
, EngelhardiaEngelhardiaEngelhardia is a genus of seven species of trees in the family Juglandaceae, native to southeast Asia from northern India east to Taiwan, Indonesia and the Philippines...
and ring-cupped oak along streams; - Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forestsEastern Himalayan broadleaf forestsThe Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests is a temperate broadleaf forest ecoregion found in the middle elevations of the eastern Himalayas, including parts of Nepal, India, and Bhutan...
in the lower temperate bioclimatic zone with predominantly broadleaf evergreen species of OakOakAn oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
and LaurelLauraceaeThe Lauraceae or Laurel family comprises a group of flowering plants included in the order Laurales. The family contains about 55 genera and over 3500, perhaps as many as 4000, species world-wide, mostly from warm or tropical regions, especially Southeast Asia and South America...
families mixed with rhododendronRhododendron arboreumRhododendron arboreum is an evergreen shrub or small tree with a showy display of bright red flowers. It is found in Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Rhododendron arboreum is also the national flower of Nepal.-Description:Its name means "tending to be woody or growing in a...
on northern slopes.
On higher elevation a variety of medicinal herb
Herb
Except in botanical usage, an herb is "any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or "a part of such a plant as used in cooking"...
s prosper. Botanists have recorded 129 species of mushrooms and 2,122 floral species, out of which 449 are vascular
Vascular plant
Vascular plants are those plants that have lignified tissues for conducting water, minerals, and photosynthetic products through the plant. Vascular plants include the clubmosses, Equisetum, ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms...
and 16 are endemic plants.
Fauna
Since 2002 several surveys were carried out to determine the faunal diversity of the protected area. In a field study carried out from July 2003 to July 2004 Indian leopardIndian leopard
The Indian leopard is a leopard subspecies widely distributed on the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the five big cats found in India, apart from Asiatic lion, Bengal tiger, snow leopard and clouded leopard....
, Jungle cat
Jungle Cat
The jungle cat is a medium-sized cat and considered the largest remaining species of the wild cat genus Felis. The species is also called the swamp lynx but is not closely related to the lynxes....
, Large Indian civet
Large Indian Civet
The Large Indian Civet is a member of the Viverrid family native to Southeast Asia. In 2008, the IUCN classified the species as Near Threatened, mainly because of the known heavy trade as wild meat.- Characteristics :...
, Golden jackal
Golden Jackal
The golden jackal , also known as the common jackal, Asiatic jackal, thos or gold-wolf is a Canid of the genus Canis indigenous to north and northeastern Africa, southeastern and central Europe , Asia Minor, the Middle East and southeast Asia...
, Himalayan black bear, Yellow-throated marten, Small Asian mongoose, Himalayan goral, Barking deer, Wild boar, Rhesus monkey, Hanuman langur, Chinese pangolin
Chinese Pangolin
The Chinese Pangolin is a pangolin that is found in north India, Nepal, Bhutan, possibly Bangladesh, across Myanmar to northern Indochina, through most of Taiwan and southern China, including the islands of Hainan.-Conservation:...
, Indian Crested porcupine, Himalayan pika
Royle's Pika
The Royle's Pika is a species of mammal in the Ochotonidae family. It is found in China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan....
, Black-naped hare
Indian Hare
The Indian Hare , also known as the Black-naped Hare, is a common species of hare found in South Asia. and in java....
, Himalayan squirrel, Fawn-colored mouse, Brown-toothed shrew
Hodgsons's Brown-toothed Shrew
The Hodgsons's Brown-toothed Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in China, India, and Myanmar.-References:* Insectivore Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
and Black rat were identified. Signs of Clouded leopard
Clouded Leopard
The clouded leopard is a felid found from the Himalayan foothills through mainland Southeast Asia into China, and has been classified as vulnerable in 2008 by IUCN...
and Leopard cat
Leopard Cat
The leopard cat is a small wild cat of South and East Asia. Since 2002 it has been listed as Least Concern by IUCN as it is widely distributed but threatened by habitat loss and hunting in parts of its range...
, thought to be present, were not observed.
In 2008, Intermediate Horseshoe, Greater Horseshoe
Greater Horseshoe Bat
The Greater Horseshoe Bat is a European bat of the Rhinolophus genus. Its distribution covers Europe, Africa, South Asia and Australia. It is the largest of the European Horseshoe Bats and is thus easily distinguished from other species...
and Big-eared Horseshoe bats
Big-eared Horseshoe Bat
The Big-eared Horseshoe Bat is a species of bat in the Rhinolophidae family. It is found in China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.-References:...
were mist net
Mist net
Mist nets are used by ornithologists and bat biologists to capture wild birds and bats for banding or other research projects. Mist nets are typically made of nylon mesh suspended between two poles, resembling an oversized volleyball net. When properly deployed, the nets are virtually invisible...
ted at the entrance of Nagarjuna cave inside the park.
In the western part of the park, herpetologists
Herpetology
Herpetology is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians and reptiles...
encountered Monocled cobra, Himalayan keelback
Amphiesma platyceps
The Himalayan keelback is a species of grass snake found in South Asia.It is known from India along the sub-Himalayan region, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan and China between 1000 to 3600 m elevation.-Description:...
, Olive Oriental Slender snake
Trachischium laeve
The olive Oriental slender snake is a species of colubrid snake.-Description:The dorsum is uniform grayish brown. The throat, belly, underside of tail, and first row of dorsal scales are yellowish....
, Yellow-bellied Worm-eating snake
Trachischium tenuiceps
The yellowbelly worm-eating snake is a species of colubrid snake.-Geographic range:It is found in Nepal, Bangladesh, India and Tibet....
, Variegated Mountain lizard
Japalura variegata
The Variegated Mountain Lizard Japalura variegata is an agamid lizard found in N India and Nepal.-Description:From C. A. L...
, Oriental garden lizard, Many-keeled Grass skink, Sikkim skink
Asymblepharus
Asymblepharus is a genus of skinks.-Classification:Genus Asymblepharus*Asymblepharus alaicus*Asymblepharus mahabharatus*Asymblepharus nepalensis*Asymblepharus tragbulense...
, Black-spined toad, Long-legged Cricket frog
Fejervarya syhadrensis
The Long-legged Cricket frog , also called the Syhadra frog, is a true frog species of the Ranidae family and native to the Western Ghats, peninsular India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh...
and Horned frog
Megophrys
Megophrys is a genus of frogs in the family Megophryidae. They commonly have elongated upper "eyebrows" and are thus known as Asian horned frogs...
in the summer of 2009.
Ornithologists
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
recorded 318 species of birds including Eurasian eagle-owl, Slender-billed Scimitar-babbler
Slender-billed Scimitar-babbler
The Slender-billed Scimitar-babbler is a species of bird in the Timaliidae family. It is the only member of the genus Xiphirhynchus....
, White-gorgeted flycatcher
White-gorgeted Flycatcher
The White-gorgeted Flycatcher is a species of passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family.It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.- External links :*...
, Barred cuckoo-dove
Barred Cuckoo-dove
The Barred Cuckoo-Dove is a species of bird in the Columbidae family.It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam....
and Golden-throated barbet
Golden-throated Barbet
The Golden-throated Barbet, Megalaima franklinii, is an Asian barbet. Barbets are a group of near passerine birds with a worldwide tropical distribution. They get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills....
.
Further reading
- Bird Conservation Nepal (2006) Birds of Shivapuri. Checklist of 318 reported species. Published in cooperation with Shivapuri National Park, Kathmandu.