NATIONAL PARKS IN NEPAL

DHORPATAN HUNTING RESERVE

Area : 1325 sq.. km.
Established : Established in 1983 and gazetted in 1987.

LOCATION :
Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve lies in the Rukum, Myagdi and Baglung Districts in the Dhaulagiri Himal range in western Nepal. Putha, Churen and Gurja Himal extend over the northern boundary of the reserve.

FEATURES :
This is the only hunting reserve in the country, attracting Nepalese and foreign sports hunters with blue sheep and other game animals. The reserve is divided into six blocs for hunting management purposes.

The reserve is characterized by alpine sub-alpine, and high temperate vegetation. Common plant species include fir, pine, birch, rhododendron, hemlock, oak, juniper and spruce. Pasture land at higher elevations occupies more than 50% of the total area of the reserve.

The reserve is one of the prime habitats for blue sheep, a highly coveted trophy. Other animals found are leopard, goral, serow, Himalayan tahr, Himalayan black bear, barking deer, wild boar, rhesus macaque, langur and mouse hare.

Pheasants and partridges are common and their viable population in the reserve permits controlled hunting. Endangered animals in the reserve include musk deer, wolf, red panda, cheer pheasant and danphe.