Animals in Nepal
Cow
Bos taurus
The cow is the official national animal of Nepal, named in Article 9 of the 2015 constitution, even though the same document declares the country secular. Cows are holy in Hinduism, the religion of most Nepalis, and killing one is against the law. Many still roam the streets of cities, where they are often neglected once they stop giving milk.
View details→Wildlife in Nepal
Nepal covers only about 147,000 square kilometers, yet it rises from about 59 meters above the sea on the southern plains to 8,849 meters at the top of Everest, and it holds eight of the 14 highest mountains on Earth. Most of its roughly 30 million people live in the hills and on the flat southern Terai, while the high Himalaya stays very thinly settled. In a straight line of about 200 kilometers the land moves from hot jungle and tall grassland through forested hills to alpine meadows, rock and ice, which is why so many kinds of animals fit into such a small country. The monsoon soaks the country from about June to September, and October, November, March and April are the months when most visitors come.
Farmers carved terraces into the hills, and herders still take yaks up to summer pasture, so people and wildlife share much of this land. Nepal created its first national park, Chitwan, in 1973, and Chitwan and Sagarmatha are both World Heritage sites. Community forests and the army's protection of parks have helped produce a rare success, as a 2026 census counted 429 tigers, up from about 121 in 2009 and 355 in 2022.
Nearly 1.16 million foreign visitors came in 2025, most of them flying into Kathmandu, then heading out to trek in the Everest or Annapurna regions or to take jeep and boat safaris in the Terai parks. Wildlife follows these contrasts: big cats, elephants and crocodiles in the lowlands, monkeys and red pandas in the forested hills, and snow leopards, wolves and yaks on the high ground.
Most Dangerous Animals in Nepal
The deadliest animals in Nepal are not the famous ones. A 2022 survey published in The Lancet Global Health estimated that 26,749 to 37,661 people are bitten by snakes each year in the Terai lowlands, and that 2,386 to 3,225 of them die. Nearly half of those bitten had venom in their system. The burden falls on rural families in the lowlands, and hospital counts capture only part of it.
Large mammals kill far fewer, but their attacks draw more attention. Official figures for the 2025 to 2026 fiscal year list 15 people killed by wildlife across the country and 48 seriously injured, with six deaths from elephants, five from tigers, and one each from leopards and crocodiles. That is down from 58 deaths in 2021 to 2022, and 146 people were killed over the past five years.
Elephants have caused the most deaths over the long run, with one study counting 274 deaths from 2000 to 2020, many in the east of the country, where herds cross farmland. Tiger attacks are a rising concern around Chitwan and Bardiya as numbers grow, and bears can be dangerous too, especially in the forest. In the high mountains the conflict is mostly over livestock: leopards and snow leopards were blamed for 3,946 and 1,193 cases of livestock losses in 2022 to 2023, a heavy cost for herding families.
Top 10 Animals in Nepal
The most famous animals in Nepal live at very different heights, so most visitors only meet some of them. Tigers are the great draw of the lowlands. Chitwan and Bardiya hold the most, and while seeing one takes luck, jeep drives in the dry months before the monsoon give the best chance, after the tall grass is cut in winter and animals gather near water. Elephants roam the same southern forests, moving across borders in the east, where they often come into contact with farms. Leopards live almost everywhere from the plains to the hills, even on the edges of towns, and bears and hyenas are found in the lowland forest and scrub, though they are seldom seen.
Higher up, the forests between Langtang and Kanchenjunga are among the best places for red pandas, shy animals that spend much of their time in bamboo and fir trees. A trek in the far north of the country can reach the world of snow leopards, with about 397 estimated across Nepal, and of the wolves and mountain cats that share those high valleys. Most trekkers come home with a story about tracks, not a photo.
Pangolins are the rarest sight of all, since they come out at night and have been heavily hunted for trade. They live in the forests of the middle hills and on some of the farmland around them.
Golden Jackal
Canis aureus
The golden jackal is widespread across Nepal's lowland Terai zone, where grasslands, riverine forests, and farmland offer a rich variety of food and cover. It is commonly found near the edges of protected areas such as Chitwan and Bardia national parks, where it fills the role of a small, generalist carnivore. Pairs often call to each other at dusk, a familiar sound to local communities. Its status is Least Concern.
Leopard
Panthera pardus
In Nepal, leopards live from the lowland forests of the Terai, in Chitwan and Bardia national parks, through the middle hills to high Himalayan valleys, and in 2012 a camera trap in the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area photographed a black leopard at 4,300 meters. Where they share forests with tigers, leopards keep to the edges and hunt smaller prey. Attacks on livestock and people near villages are common. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Asian Elephant
Elephas maximus
Nepal's wild Asian elephants live in the lowland Terai, mainly in and around Chitwan, Bardia, Shuklaphanta and Parsa national parks and the forests of the east. Resident elephants number about 200, joined by herds that cross the border from India. Nepal also keeps elephants for park patrols and tourism. Conflict with farmers in villages near the forests is the main threat, so corridors are vital. IUCN status: Endangered.
Asiatic Black Bear
Ursus thibetanus
In Nepal the Asiatic black bear lives in the forests of the middle hills and the Himalayas, moving higher in summer and lower in winter. Conflict with villagers is common: in Jumla district, 85 percent of the people surveyed had crops damaged by bears in 2019, and cows and oxen were the livestock most often killed. Even so, most people there still supported protecting the bear. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Fishing Cat
Prionailurus viverrinus
In Nepal the fishing cat lives in the lowland Terai, at the northern edge of its range. It is found in wetlands inside protected areas such as Chitwan National Park and Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, where it hunts along rivers, oxbow lakes and dense grass. Outside these areas, the loss of wetlands to farming and killings by people who fish the same waters remain serious problems. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Langur
Semnopithecus spp.
Nepal has two gray langurs. The Nepal gray langur lives in Himalayan forests up to about 4,000 meters, and a male of this species holds the weight record for gray langurs, at 26.5 kilograms. The Tarai gray langur, listed as Near Threatened, lives in the forests of the lowlands and foothills. Troops are easy to see in Chitwan and Bardia national parks and around temples and villages in the hills. IUCN status: varies by species.
Macaque
Macaca spp.
Nepal has two macaques: the rhesus macaque of the Terai lowlands, river valleys and cities, and the Assamese macaque of the forested middle hills. Rhesus troops are famous at Kathmandu's Swayambhunath, often called the Monkey Temple, and at Pashupatinath, where hundreds live on offerings and tourists' snacks. In the countryside they raid crops, causing conflict with farmers. Both also live in protected areas like Chitwan. IUCN status: varies by species.
Pangolin
Manidae (8 species)
Nepal has two pangolins. The Chinese pangolin lives in the forests of the middle hills, even close to the Kathmandu Valley, and can be found up to around 3,000 meters, while the Indian pangolin lives in the lowland Terai and the Siwalik hills. Both are hunted for the illegal trade across the border to China, and Nepal protects them by law, with community forest groups helping to watch over them. IUCN status: varies by species.
Red Panda
Ailurus fulgens
In Nepal the red panda lives in the temperate forests of the high hills, from Kangchenjunga and Ilam in the east through Langtang to Rara and Dhorpatan in the west. Estimates range from a few hundred to about a thousand animals, and the population is falling. Poachers still sell their hides, but the Red Panda Network pays local forest guardians to watch over red panda forests and remove traps. IUCN status: Endangered.
Snow Leopard
Panthera uncia
Nepal's first nationwide snow leopard survey, announced in 2025, estimated 397 animals using camera traps and genetic samples. They live along the high Himalayas and the dry trans Himalayan valleys of Dolpo, Mustang, Manang and Kangchenjunga. Shey Phoksundo National Park in Dolpo is among the best known sites. Community patrols and predator proof corrals help reduce conflict with herders. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Bengal Tiger
Panthera tigris tigris
Nepal's Bengal tigers live in the lowland Terai, mainly in Chitwan, Bardia, Parsa, Shuklaphanta and Banke. The 2026 count found 429 tigers, up from about 121 in 2009, one of the biggest recoveries anywhere. They hunt sambar, wild boar and gaur in sal forest and tall elephant grass, alongside Asian elephants, but more tigers also means more conflict with villages. IUCN status: Endangered.
Water Buffalo
Bubalus arnee
Nepal's wild water buffalo, known locally as arna, live in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, on the floodplains of the Koshi River in the eastern terai. The herd has grown from about 219 in 2009 to around 400 to 500 in recent counts. In 2017, 15 animals were moved to Chitwan National Park to start a second population, since an outbreak of disease could wipe out a single herd. IUCN status: Endangered.
Yak
Bos grunniens
In Nepal, yaks are raised in high Himalayan valleys such as the Everest region, Dolpo and Mustang. They carry loads on trekking routes, and their milk becomes butter and chhurpi, a hard dried cheese. Yak and cattle hybrids, called dzo and dzomo, work at lower altitudes. A small group of wild yaks was photographed in Humla in 2014. IUCN status: domestic yak not evaluated; wild yak Vulnerable.
Brown Bear
Ursus arctos
Nepal's brown bears are rare and live in the high, dry valleys near the Tibetan border. Camera traps confirmed them in the Annapurna and Manaslu region, and a 2021 to 2023 study recorded them repeatedly in the Limi Valley of Upper Humla, now considered a stronghold. They share these remote landscapes with the snow leopard. Bears there dig out marmots and pikas. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Gray Wolf
Canis lupus
In Nepal, gray wolves live primarily in the high plateaus and valleys of the Himalayas, particularly in the Dolpa and Mustang regions, where elevations can exceed 4,000 meters. This is one of the most rugged environments any wolf population occupies. They prey on blue sheep and other mountain ungulates. Conflict with herders is a concern, and conservation efforts focus on reducing livestock losses while protecting these high altitude populations.
Stone Marten
Martes foina
In Nepal, the stone marten lives high in the Himalayas, in conifer forest, alpine scrub and rocky slopes. It has been recorded in the Annapurna Conservation Area, and in 2024 researchers published the first photographs of it in the Lapchi and Rolwaling valleys of the Gaurishankar Conservation Area. It hunts rodents, pikas and birds, eats berries and is mostly active at night. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eurasian Lynx
Lynx lynx
In Nepal the Eurasian lynx lives in the dry, high valleys north of the Himalaya. Confirmed records come from Upper Mustang in the Annapurna Conservation Area, Shey Phoksundo National Park in Dolpa, Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve and Upper Humla, where camera traps caught it in 2021 and 2022. It shares these cold slopes with snow leopards and wolves and hunts hares and pikas. It is rare and nationally Vulnerable. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
In Nepal, the red fox lives mainly in the high, dry valleys of the trans Himalaya, such as Upper Mustang, Dolpo and Manang, and in the alpine meadows near the border with Tibet, often above 3,000 meters. It belongs to the thick coated Himalayan red fox and hunts pikas, voles, mice and birds, also scavenging near villages and yak herders' camps. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Wild Boar
Sus scrofa
Wild boars live in the lowland Terai forests and grasslands of Nepal and in the wooded middle hills, where they are an important prey for Bengal tigers and leopards in parks such as Chitwan and Bardia. Dholes and mugger crocodiles take them too. They often raid crops around park boundaries, causing conflict with farmers, while their rooting turns the soil and spreads seeds. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Striped Hyena
Hyaena hyaena
In Nepal, striped hyenas live in the dry lowlands of the western and central Terai, in and around protected areas such as Banke and Bardia National Parks, and on the edges of farmland. They are rarely seen and come out only at night to scavenge, sharing the land with tigers, leopards and golden jackals, whose kills they sometimes finish. Poisoned carcasses meant for other animals and habitat loss threaten them. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Honey Badger
Mellivora capensis
In Nepal the honey badger lives mainly in the southern lowlands, the Terai along the border with India, in places such as Chitwan, Bardia and Shuklaphanta, where forest and grassland support plenty of prey. It is rarely seen because it is solitary and active mostly at night, and few surveys have focused on it. It feeds on rodents, reptiles and insects and digs burrows for shelter. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Clouded Leopard
Neofelis nebulosa
Nepal's first camera trap photos of a clouded leopard came from Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, near Kathmandu, in 2010. Since then it has also been recorded in the Annapurna Conservation Area, in Chitwan National Park and in the east of the country, in forests of the middle hills and the lowlands. It remains one of Nepal's least studied cats, and forest loss and hunting are its main threats. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Blackbuck
Antilope cervicapra
Nepal's only wild blackbuck live in the Blackbuck Conservation Area at Khairapur, in Bardiya district, a small grassland surrounded by farms in the western Terai. The herd grew from a handful of animals in the 1970s to more than 200, but the latest count found 210, down from 242, with leopards causing most of the deaths. Nepal plans to move some animals to Chitwan and other parks to spread the risk. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Dhole
Cuon alpinus
In Nepal, dholes live in the lowland forests of the Terai and in forested hills further north, with records from Chitwan and Banke National Parks, and they have even been recorded at high altitude in the Himalayas. They share these landscapes with tigers and leopards and compete with them for deer. Their population is small and fragmented, and disease from dogs and prey loss remain the main threats. IUCN status: Endangered.
Gaur
Bos gaurus
In Nepal the gaur lives in the lowland forests and Chure hills of the south. Chitwan National Park is its stronghold, where counts rose from 188 in 1997 to 368 in 2016, and next door Parsa went from 21 to 112 between 2011 and 2016. A smaller group lives in the Trijuga valley in the east. Gaur share these forests with Bengal tigers, Asian elephants and leopards. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Sambar Deer
Rusa unicolor
In Nepal, the sambar lives in the forests and tall grasslands of the lowland Terai and the lower hills, with key populations in Chitwan, Bardia, Banke and Shuklaphanta national parks. It is a vital prey species for Nepal's growing tiger population and for leopards. Sambar tend to stay in denser forest than the more common spotted deer, and poaching and loss of forest outside the parks remain the main threats. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Pallas's Cat
Otocolobus manul
Nepal confirmed the Pallas's cat only in 2012, with photos from the dry valleys of Manang in the Annapurna region. Since then it has been recorded in Upper Mustang and, in 2019, on Mount Everest, where scat collected at about 5,100 meters in Sagarmatha National Park turned out to belong to two manuls. It lives in the high, arid north of the country, the same land as snow leopards and yaks. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Sloth Bear
Melursus ursinus
In Nepal the sloth bear lives in the lowland Terai along the border with India, in Chitwan, Bardia, Parsa and nearby forests and grasslands. Chitwan hosted one of the first detailed studies of the species, which showed how it feeds on termites and fruit. Fewer than 1,000 are thought to live in the country, and it shares the Terai with Bengal tigers, leopards and Asian elephants. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Eurasian Otter
Lutra lutra
In Nepal the Eurasian otter lives mainly in rivers of the hills and mountains, from warm valleys to cold Himalayan streams. It has become rare, hit by poaching for the skin trade with Tibet and China, dams, sand mining and poisoned or dynamited rivers. It shares Nepal's rivers with gharials and mugger crocodiles in the lowlands and with snow leopards and red pandas higher up. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Gharial
Gavialis gangeticus
In Nepal the gharial lives in the Narayani and Rapti rivers of Chitwan National Park, its main stronghold in the country, where the count reached 265 in early 2024, and in the Babai and Karnali rivers of Bardia. The Gharial Breeding Center at Kasara, in Chitwan, has raised and released young gharials since 1978. Fishing nets, sand mining and falling river levels remain serious threats. IUCN status: Critically Endangered.
King Cobra
Ophiophagus hannah
The king cobra reaches the northern edge of its range in Nepal, in the forests and grasslands of the Terai lowlands and the lower hills. It is sometimes seen in and around protected areas like Chitwan and Bardia, and in recent years it has been found at higher, cooler altitudes than before, which some researchers link to climate change. Habitat loss and killing out of fear are the main threats. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Mugger Crocodile
Crocodylus palustris
In Nepal the mugger crocodile lives in the rivers, oxbow lakes and wetlands of the Terai lowlands, where it shares water with the gharial. Chitwan National Park is the best place to see it, basking on the banks of the Rapti and Narayani rivers or in lakes such as those of the Bis Hajari wetlands It also lives in Bardia National Park. Wetland loss and fishing nets are the main pressures. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Steppe Eagle
Aquila nipalensis
Nepal is the steppe eagle's main crossing point over the Himalayas. Each autumn, from late October, thousands stream west along the foothills: in one count of about two and a half weeks, 7,852 were tallied, more than 80 percent of all migrating raptors, and over three years more than 21,000 were recorded. Some birds also winter in the Terai. The species' scientific name, nipalensis, means from Nepal. IUCN status: Endangered.
Griffon Vulture
Gyps fulvus
In Nepal, the griffon vulture breeds in the Himalayas and the mid hills, riding thermal currents to great heights in search of carrion. It often gathers at carcasses together with other vulture species. Nepal banned veterinary diclofenac and set up vulture safe feeding sites after the drug caused a collapse of vultures across South Asia, making the country important for the species. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Tawny Eagle
Aquila rapax
In Nepal, the tawny eagle is a rare resident of the lowland Terai, in open grassland and dry country near the Indian border. It hunts small mammals and reptiles and scavenges from carcasses. It is seldom recorded, and many large brown eagles seen in Nepal are steppe eagles on migration. Habitat loss, poisoning and power lines threaten it here, as across the subcontinent. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Eagle Owl
Bubo bubo
In Nepal, the Eurasian eagle owl is found across a range of elevations, from the foothills of the Himalayas to higher rocky terrain. It favors steep gorges, forested hillsides, and open mountain slopes. A nocturnal predator of considerable size, it feeds on rodents, birds, and small mammals. Nepal's varied topography supports a number of resident pairs. It is one of the largest owls recorded in the country. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern.
Himalayan Monal
Lophophorus impejanus
Nepal holds a special bond with the Himalayan monal: it is the country's national bird, known locally as the danphe. Found across the country's middle and high Himalayas, it thrives in forests of oak and rhododendron and on open alpine slopes. Males are famous for their spectacular iridescent plumage. Conservation efforts in protected areas such as Sagarmatha and Langtang national parks help support healthy populations of this celebrated bird.
Saker Falcon
Falco cherrug
In Nepal, the saker falcon is recorded as a winter visitor, descending from its Central Asian breeding grounds to spend the cooler months in lower-lying open areas. The Terai lowlands and river valleys in the south of the country offer the open terrain this species favours for hunting. Sightings in Nepal are relatively uncommon, but the country forms part of the broader South Asian wintering range for this falcon. The IUCN lists it as Endangered.
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
The barn owl is found in Nepal mainly in the Terai lowlands and the lower hill zones, where open farmland, rice paddies, and areas near villages provide suitable hunting habitat. It nests in old buildings, hollow trees, and cliff faces, and hunts rodents at night. It avoids the high Himalayan zones, where cold temperatures and altitude make survival difficult. In the agricultural communities of the Terai, where rodent damage to rice and wheat is a persistent problem, it is valued as a natural pest controller.
White tailed Eagle
Haliaeetus albicilla
The white tailed eagle reaches Nepal as a rare winter visitor, found in the lowland Terai along rivers and wetlands close to the border with India. The floodplains of the Koshi and Narayani rivers, and protected areas such as Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, offer suitable habitat. Sightings are infrequent, and every confirmed record is notable. It hunts fish and waterbirds. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Crane
Grus grus
In Nepal the common crane is mainly a passage migrant. Flocks cross the Himalayas each autumn on their way from breeding grounds in Central Asia and Mongolia to wintering areas in India, and return in spring. Some of these flocks fly at great altitude through high valleys such as the Kali Gandaki, and a few birds stop to rest in wetlands and fields of the Terai lowlands along the way. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Stork
Ciconia ciconia
The white stork is recorded as a rare winter visitor to Nepal, occasionally seen in the lowland Terai region near wetlands, river floodplains, and open agricultural land. Sightings are uncommon, placing it at the eastern edge of the species' wintering and passage range in South Asia. The bird feeds on frogs, fish, and insects in shallow water habitats. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern.
White Wagtail
Motacilla alba
Nepal hosts the white wagtail in two ways. In summer the Himalayan form breeds along rivers and streams in the mountains, up to high valleys, and in winter many birds from Central Asia and Siberia arrive in the Terai lowlands and the Kathmandu Valley. They feed on riverbanks, gravel bars, rice paddies and lawns, and are among the most familiar small birds along Nepal's rivers. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
Nepal is home to some of the highest terrain on Earth, and the peregrine falcon uses the Himalayan valleys and rocky gorges of this country as both nesting sites and migration routes. It has been observed at remarkable altitudes, riding thermals above the mountain ridges. Lower valleys and the Terai plains attract wintering birds and passage migrants. The species is seen across a wide range of elevations, which reflects its impressive ability to adapt to different environments. Its IUCN status is Least Concern.
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
In Nepal, the golden eagle lives in the high Himalayan valleys and passes, especially in the dry trans Himalayan regions of the north, such as Mustang and Dolpo. It belongs to the large Himalayan subspecies and hunts marmots, pikas, hares and snowcocks over open slopes above the treeline, often soaring with Himalayan vultures. Pairs keep the same territory for years and often have several nests. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Flamingo
Phoenicopteridae (6 species)
The greater flamingo is listed by the IUCN as present in Nepal, but it is one of the country's rarest birds, known only from occasional records of wanderers on large rivers and wetlands of the southern lowlands. Nepal lies far from the salty lakes and coasts flamingos prefer, so each sighting stands out. The species' nearest strongholds are the salt flats and coastal wetlands of western India. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Bearded Vulture
Gypaetus barbatus
Nepal is one of the best places in the world to see a bearded vulture. Trekkers meet it on the trails of the Annapurna and Everest regions, in Upper Mustang and in Dolpo, often gliding close to the villages and high pastures. It feeds on the bones of yaks, sheep, goats and wild mountain animals, and shares the Himalaya with snow leopards and Himalayan monals. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Frequently Asked Questions
What animals live in Nepal?
Nepal has Bengal tigers, Asian elephants, leopards, snow leopards, red pandas, sloth bears, yaks, macaques and langurs, along with king cobras, gharials and mugger crocodiles. Among its birds are the Himalayan monal, bearded vultures, storks and cranes. Few countries of its size pack in so many kinds of animals.
What is the national animal of Nepal?
The cow is the national animal of Nepal. Article 9 of the 2015 constitution names it, and Hindu tradition treats it as holy. The same constitution also sets the national bird and the national flower.
What is the national bird of Nepal?
The national bird of Nepal is the Himalayan monal, known locally as the danphe. It is a large, colorful pheasant of the high mountain forests and meadows, and the 2015 constitution names it under its scientific group, Lophophorus. The male shines with metallic green, blue and copper feathers.
How many tigers are in Nepal?
A national census released in July 2026 counted 429 wild tigers, a record for Nepal and up from 355 in 2022. Chitwan and Bardiya hold the largest numbers. Nepal has more than tripled its tigers since about 2009, and researchers are now worried about space and conflict with people.
Are there yaks in Nepal?
Yes. Yaks are the most familiar large animal of the Nepali Himalaya, kept by mountain families for milk, wool, meat and carrying loads at high altitude. Trekkers meet them on the trails around Everest. A small wild yak population, thought lost to Nepal in the 1970s, was rediscovered in 2014.
Researched and written by Juan Pablo. Sources: IUCN Red List, scientific literature and regional field guides. Last updated: .