Flora and Fauna

Pokhara is not just a place for the mountains, it is rich for its natural vegetation and forest type too. Hills like Sarangkot, Kaudanda etc boast wide variety of forest plants and trees. These dense forest are also a dwelling place for different wild creatures.

There is exclusively great floral and faunal diversity in Pokhara valley due to the prevalence of a wide range of climatic and topographical variations. The valley is dominated by rich pockets of Schima-Castanopsis forest. In the southern part of the valley Shorea robust mixed with Schema wallichii is found. Along the river and streams side, Acacia catechu at lower belt and Almus nepalensis at higher belt occur. Gregarious Bompax ceiba trees spread over flat terraces. At higher elevations, north of Pokhara, floral composition of astonishing diversity comprising several species of blossoming rhododendrons and orchids and a wide range of other species of quercus, Champ, conifers, bamboos and pasture grasses have created dense and diverse vegetation complexes.

The forests of Pokhara valley can be grouped under five types as follows : 1. Evergreen Coniferous Forest: t occupies roughly 7% of total forested area of the valley. It is mainly found on the higher slopes of the hills, above 1,850 m. in the north-western and north-eastern part of the valley. The main tree species of this forest are: S.No. English Name Scientific Name Family 1. Chirpine Pinus roxburghii Pinaceae 2. Spruce Picea smithiana Pinaceae 3. Silver Oak Gravillea robusta Protaceae 2. Mixed Forest: Mixed forest occupies nearly 34% of the forested area of the valley. It is found on the lower slopes of the hills between 1,220 m. to 1,850m. It is found on the northern parts and mainly concentrated in the north-western and north-eastern parts of the valley. The main trees species of this forest are: S.No. Local Name Scientific Name Family 1. Chilaune Schima wallichii Theaceae 2. Katus Castanopsis indica Fagaceae 3. Uttis Alnus nepalensis Betulaceae 3. Monsoon Forest: It occupies 33% of the total forested land. These forests are found in the south and eastern part of the valley at the elevation of 762 to 1,219m. Several tree species of religious importance have been planted in these areas: The main species are: S. No. Local Name Scientific Name Family Habit 1. Sal Shorea robusta Dipterocarpaceae Tree 2. Simal Bombax ceiba Bombacaceae Tree 3. Chilaune Schima wallichii Theaceae Tree 4. Bar Ficus bengalensis Moraceae Tree 5. Pipal Ficus religiosa Moraceae Tree 6. Titepati Artemesia vulgaris Compositeae Herb 7. Tapre Cassia tora Leguminoseae Herb 4. Grasslands: This type of vegetation occupies 12% of the total forest areas. It is concentrated in the central part of the valley along river sides and deposited areas. The major grassland species are: S. No. Local Name Scientific Name Family Habit 1. Dudhejhar Euphorbia hirta Euphorbiaceae Herb 2. Banmara Lantana camera Verbenaceae Shrub 3. Unyu Dryopteris species Polypodiaceae Herb 4. Bhui Kaphal Fragaria insica Rosaceae Herb 5. Kuro Bidens pilosa Compositeae Herb 6. Dubo Cynodon dactylon Graminae Herb 5. Reverie Forest: It covers 14% of the total forested land of the valley. The forest is found near the rivers and lakes. Swampy forest species are also included in this forest. Dominant species of this forest are: S. No. Local Name Scientific Name Family Habit 1. Khair Acacia catechu Leguminoseae Tree 2. Bayar Zizyphus jujuba Rhamasceae Shurb 3. Simal Bombax ceiba Bombaceae Tree 4. Kalo Siris Albizzia lebbeck Leguminoseae Tree 5. Amp Mangifera indica Anacardiaceae Tree Several species of medicinal plants are also recorded in the Pokhara valley. Some of them are: S. No. Local Name Scientific Name Family Habit 1. Asuro Adhatoda vasica Canthaceae Shrub 2. Amala Emblica officinalis Euphorbiaceae Tree 3. Bel Aegle marmelos Rutaceae Tree 4. Neem Azidarachta indica Meliaceae Tree 5. Chutro Berberis aristata Barberidaceae Shrub 6. Palans Butea monosperma Fagaceae Tree 7. Dhaturo Datura stramonium Solanaceae Shrub Besides these plants, the valley is equally rice in aquatic plants as it is the home of many lakes. Some of these plants are considered very important as they have become endangered. Following is the list of major aquatic plants: Common Name Scientific Name Mosquito fem Azolla carliniana Water hyacinth Eichornia crassips Duckweed Lemma spp. Corntail Ceratophyllum spp. Water lettuce Pistia stratiotes Tape grass Vallisneria spp. Water weed Egeria spp. Pond weed Potamogaton cenferoides Water lily Nymphoides aquatica Hydrilla Hydrilla verticillata Water lotus Nelumbo spp.

Mammals

Nearly 35 species of mammals are found in Pokhara valley. The mammals are commonly found in the forests around Pokhara but occasionally seen due to lower population and their shy nature as compared to avifauna. Hence patience is required to watch these mammals. The best places to observe these mammals are the forests near Fewa lake, Begnas lake, Rupa lake and Banpale Hill (Forest of Insitute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus). Some major species are: S.No. Name Zoological Name Family 1. Common leopard Panthera pardus Felidae 2. Jungle cat Felis chaus Felidae 3. Crab-eating Mongoose Herpestus urva Herpestidae 4. Masked palm civet Paguma larvata Viverridae 5. Indian crested porcupine Hystrix indica Hystricidae 6. Golden jackal Canis aureus Canidae 7. Barking deer Muntiacus muntjak Cervidae 8. Common otter Lutra lutra Mustelidae 9. Asiatic lack bear Selenarctos thbetanus Ursidae 10. Indian pangolin Manis crassicaudata Manidae 11. Assamese monkey Macaca assamensis Cercopithecidae 12. Bengal fox Vulpus bengalensis Canidae 13. Leopard cat Felis bengalensis Felidae 14. Clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa Felidae 15. Small Asian mongoose Herpestus javanicus Herpestidae 16. Indian grey mongoose Herpestus edwardissii Herpestidae 17. Indian hare Lepus nigricollis Leporidae 18 Bush rat Golunda ellioti Muridae 19. Himalayan yellow throated marten Martex flavigula Mustelidae 20. Greater woolly Horseshoe bat Rhinoloplus luctus Rhonilophidae

BIRDS

Diverse floral composition of Pokhara valley has made it one of the most suitable places for birds. Habitat combination of Seti canyon and marshy lakes with dense forests and flat plains provide proper habitat for a diverse range of birds. Several species of birds including kingfishers, barbets, drongos, woodpeckers, babblers, flowerpeckers, flycatchers, egrets and bulbuls are found. The birds are residential as well as migratory. Following is a list of some very common birds of Pokhara. S.No. Common Name Scientific Name Family 1. Cattle egret Bubulcus ibis Ardidae 2. Dark kite Milvus migrans Accipitridae 3. Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus Accipitridae 4. Black patridge Fancolinus francolinus Phasianidae 5. Rose-ringed parakeet Psittacula krameri Psittacidae 6. Eurasian cuckoo Cuculus canorus Cuculidae 7. Blue throated barbet Megalaima asiatica Captionidae 8. Blacknaped woodpecker Picus canus Picidae 9. House swift Apus affinis Apodidae 10. House crow Corvus splendens Corvidae 11. Himalayan tree pie Dendrocitta formosae Corvidae 12. Ashy drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus Dicruridae 13. Black headed shrike Lanius schach Laniidae 14. Whistling thrush Myiophoneus caeruleus Muscicapidae 15. Beautiful nitava Muscicapa sundara Muscicapidae 16. Black headed oriole Oriolus chinensis Oriolidae 17. Golden oriole Oriolus oriolus Oriolidae 18. Red vented bulbul Pycnonotus cafer Pycnotidae 19. Grey tit Parus major Paridae 20. Pond heron Ardeola grayii Ardidae