MAKALU-BARUN NATIONAL PARK

Location and feature

Location:-
The park and conservation area are situated in the Sankhuwasabha and Solukhumbu Districts, bordered by the Arun River on the west, the Nepal-Tibet border on the north and the Saune Danda (ridge) to the south.

FEATURES:
This is the only protected area in Nepal with a strict nature reserve. The park has some of the richest and most unique pockets of plants and animals in Nepal.
Stepping up the slopes are a series of vegetation zones starting with tropical Schima-Castanopsis forest (1000-2000m), fir/birch/rhododendron forests in the sub-alpine (3000-4000 m); and herbs, grasses and rhododendron/juniper shrubs in the alpine pastures (4000-5000 m). There are 47 varieties of orchids, 67 species of economically valuable medicinal and aromatic plants, 25 varieties of rhododendron, 19 species of bamboo, 15 oaks including Arkhoulo, 86 species of fodder trees and 48 species of primrose.
Over 400 species of birds have been sighted in the Makalu-Barun area, including two species of warbler never before seen. Wildlife includes the endangered red panda, musk deer, Himalayan black bear, clouded leopard and possibly ghoral, Himalayan tahr, wild boar, barking deer, Himalayan marmot and weasel, common langur monkey and the serow. The Arun River system contain 84 varieties of fish. Over 32,000 people inhabit the conservation area