Animals in Nepal

Updated: March 5, 2023
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Below you can find a complete list of Nepalese animals. We currently track 264 animals in Nepal and are adding more every day!

Nepal is an Asian country that borders Tibet on one side and India on the other. The climate ranges from subtropical forests in the lowland Tarai valley to ice and snow on the Himalayan mountains. This small country is home to eight of the tallest mountains in the world. Nepal’s native animals include the Bengal fox, Bengal tiger, snow leopard, wild ox, many species of deer, the Himalayan tahr, yak, and blue sheep.

National Animal of Nepal

Cow vs Heifer - Calf head

Cows are the national animal of Nepal.

©Clara Bastian/Shutterstock.com

Nepal’s national animal is the cow. Cows may roam free in the country, and it is illegal to mistreat or kill one in accordance with the country’s national religion of Hinduism. For Nepali Hindus, the cow is the holiest animal and an embodiment of mother Earth. Every year there is a three-day-long festival dedicated to celebrating cows called Tihar, though bovines are venerated year-round.

Although not a national animal, the yak is key to the survival of Nepali people who live in the mountains. These shaggy, cow-like animals thrive at high altitudes and are important sources of milk, butter, and dung. Without the help of the resilient yak, it would be impossible for local sherpas to brave the treacherous trails of the high Himalayas.

Where To Find The Top Wildlife in Nepal

Rhesus Macaque monkey sitting on temple stupa.

You don’t have to travel to a wildlife sanctuary to experience the wonders of Nepali animals, Rhesus Macaques monkeys regularly adorn the stupas of the Swayambhunath temple high above Kathmandu.

©iStock.com/3yephotography

Some of the best places to see wild animals are the country’s national parks.

Sagarmatha National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes Mt. Everest. It is home to rare wildlife like the Himalayan tahr, goral, musk deer, and serow.

Bardiya National Park is a protected area where you can spot rare, exotic animals like the wild elephant, one-horned rhinoceros, blackbuck, swamp deer, gharial crocodile, and the Ganges River dolphin. It also protects more than 200 endangered bird species.

Rolwaling Valley Sanctuary is a protected area for yaks. It’s also a grazing area for wild cows, wild sheep, and other wildlife.

Shey Phoksundo National Park is the largest national park in Nepal. From the breathtaking height of 11,850 feet above sea level, you can experience the gorgeous serenity of Phoksundo lake which boasts the highest waterfall in Nepal. Snow leopards, Himalayan tahr, and rhesus monkeys are some of the wildlife you can find in this park.

Most Dangerous Animals In Nepal

Where Do Snakes Live

This baby Himalayan Pit Viper is one of Nepal’s deadliest creatures.

©iStock.com/ePhotocorp

To adapt to the harsh, freezing conditions of Nepal, many creatures have developed deadly traits to ward off predators. Others are simply possessed of an impressive amount of physical strength, or have sharpened appendages like claws, tusks or fang-like teeth that cause fear to fill the hearts of those who encounter them.

Nepal is home to many dangerous snakes, including the king cobra, the Himalayan krait, and the green pit viper. Other dangerous animals that live in Nepal include the Bengal tiger, Tibetan wolf, Snow Leopard, and marsh mugger crocodile.

The Largest Animal in Nepal

Animals in Asia

The Indian Elepnant is the largest animal in Nepal.

©Pikoso.kz/Shutterstock.com

With the gargantuan measurements of up to 10 ft in height and 11,000 lbs in weight, the Indian elephant is the largest creature in Nepal. The local relationship with these gentle giants is one fraught with paradox. Due to years of poaching and destruction of their natural habitat from the expansion of human populations, the Indian elephant’s population has dwindled down to fewer than 200 individuals in the Nepali wild.

Efforts to conserve the species have been met with concerns from native farmers who can experience millions of rupees worth of damage to their crops from these elephants every year. When agitated, these creatures can also inflict serious harm on humans who are caught in the path of their frenzy. Though they may be a nuisance to many Nepali farmers, efforts to protect these well meaning pachyderms are actively enforced by the local government.

Endangered and Extinct Animals in Nepal

Cutest Animals: Red Panda

Red

panda

habitats are threatened throughout the world.

©iStock.com/Edwin_Butter

For a small, but immensely biodiverse country like Nepal, it is difficult to maintain an ecological balance between the native species and the humans who live there, as there is simply not much livable space to go around. This is why conservational efforts like the establishment of National Parks and protective legislature for endangered species is vital to the survival of some of nature’s most beautiful and unique forms of life.

Nepal’s endangered animals include the Indian rhino, which is also known as the greater one-horned rhinoceros or great Indian rhinoceros. Once widespread in Asia, the rhino is now almost extinct.

Other endangered animals in Nepal are the red panda, Bengal tiger, musk deer, Chinese and Indian pangolin, great hornbill, and snow leopard. Extinct animals include the pygmy hog and Tibetan antelope.

Nepal’s diverse ecosystems are home to rare, exotic wildlife you won’t see anywhere else, set amidst the vibrant, breathtaking majesty of the Himalayan mountains. The best place to see them is one of the country’s many national parks.

What is the Rarest Animal in Nepal?

Cute baby Indian pangolin

The Indian pangolin is Nepal’s rarest animal.

©Positive Snapshot/Shutterstock.com

Pangolins are one of the most unique animals in the world. These cute, shy creatures are the only living mammal with scales. Unfortunately this feature has led the pangolin to be highly sought after in traditional Chinese medicine, leading them to become the most heavily trafficked animal on Earth.

Due to it’s key position at the border of China where pangolin trade is at it’s most rampant, Nepal is also a hot spot for poaching these extremely endangered animals. There are no definite statistics on how many Indian pangolins remain in the wild in Nepal, but the local government is taking measures to revitalize and protect these creatures at all costs.

Nepalese Animals

Admiral Butterfly

Stunningly beautiful wings

Ant

First evolved 100 million years ago!

Antelope

Renew their horns every year!

Armyworm

They are so named because they "march" in armies of worms from one crop to another in search of food

Asian Giant Hornet

The largest wasp in the world!

Asian Palm Civet

It mainly eats mangos and coffee!

Asiatic Black Bear

Known to eat 160 different tree-borne fruits in Thailand!

Aurochs

Extinct ancestor of all domesticated cattle!

Avocet

Has a curved, upturned beak!

Bamboo Rat

They make a "boop, boop, boop" sound when danger draws near their burrow.

Banana Spider

People spin clothing and fishing nets out of these spiders’ silk.

Barb

There are over 1768 known species!

Barn Owl

Found everywhere around the world!

Barn Swallow

Older offspring help care for new hatchlings.

Bat

Detects prey using echolocation!

Bear

There are 8 different species!

Bearded Vulture

These birds eat a diet of bones

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs feed for 4-12 minutes.

Bee

Rock paintings of bees date back 15,000 years

Beetle

There are more than 350,000 different species

Bengal Tiger

The most numerous species of tiger!

Bird

Not all birds are able to fly!

Biscuit Beetle

The biscuit beetle form a symbiotic relationship with yeast

Black Widow Spider

They typically prey on insects!

Brahminy Blindsnake

These snakes have been introduced to all continents, except Antarctica!

Brazilian Treehopper

“Mild-Mannered Minimonsters”

Bronze-winged Jacana

Fathers pick up their young and carry them under their wings

Brown Dog Tick

Can live its entire life indoors

Bumblebee

The most common species of bee!

Butterfly

There are thought to be up 17,500 species!

Caecilian

Some species' babies use their hooked or scraper-like teeth to peel off and eat their mother's skin

Camel Cricket

The camel crickets that are found in the USA are light brown in color. They also have dark streaks all over their body.

Carpenter Ant

Carpenter ants can lift up to seven times their own weight with their teeth!

Cashmere Goat

Cashmere goat are named after Kashmir regions of India and Pakistan

Cat

May have been domesticated up to 10,000 years ago.

Caterpillar

The larvae of a moth or butterfly!

Catfish

There are nearly 3,000 different species!

Centipede

There are about 3,000 documented species!

Chicken

First domesticated more than 10,000 years ago!

Cicada

Cicadas have one of the longest insect lifespans

Cinereous Vulture

This vulture can fly at great heights. At least one was found a few thousand feet from the top of Mount Everest.

Clouded Leopard

Has canines that can be two inches long!

Cockroach

Dated to be around 300 million years old!

Codling Moth

Pupae are able to undergo diapause to survive poor fruit yield years and winter.

Common Buzzard

The most common raptor in the UK!

Common Furniture Beetle

The common furniture beetle feeds exclusively on wood

Common Green Magpie

Magpies are aggressive when threatened, often “dive-bombing” at intruders

Common House Spider

House spiders have the ability to eat most insects in a home.

Common Raven

A group of ravens is called an unkindness or a conspiracy.

Coral Snake

There are over 80 species of coral snake worldwide.

Cormorant

They can fly 35 mph and dive 150 feet below water.

Cow

There are nearly 1.5 billion worldwide!

Crab

There are 93 different crab groups

Crab Spider

Crab Spiders can mimic ants or bird droppings

Crane

Many are critically endangered species!

Cricket

Male crickets can produce sounds by rubbing their wings together

Crocodile

Have changed little in 200 million years!

Crocodylomorph

Crocodylomorphs include extinct ancient species as well as 26 living species today.

Crow

A group of these birds is called a Murder.

Danios

These fish make a popular choice for aquarium hobbyists due to their hardy nature.

Deer

There are around 40 different species!

Desert Locust

Solitary locusts are grey while gregarious locusts are yellow with stripes.

Dhole

Only 2,000 left in the wild!

Dog

First domesticated in South-East Asia!

Dog Tick

Dog ticks feed on dogs and other mammals

Donkey

First domesticated 5,000 years ago!

Dormouse

Found in Europe, Africa and Asia!

Dragonfly

It's larvae are carnivorous!

Duck

Rows of tiny plates line their teeth!

Dung Beetle

The dung beetle can push objects many times its own weight

Eagle

Has exceptional eyesight!

Earthworm

They are hermaphrodites, which means they have male and female organs

Earwig

There are nearly 2,000 different species!

Eel

Eels can be a mere few inches long to 13 feet!

Egyptian Vulture

They steal large ostrich eggs and use rocks and pebbles to crack the shells.

Elephant

Spends around 22 hours a day eating!

Eurasian Eagle-owl

The Eurasian Eagle-owl is the second largest owl in the world with a wingspan up to six feet!

European Goldfinch

They are frequent visitors to backyard feeders, especially those containing niger seeds.

Falcon

The fastest creatures on the planet!

False Widow Spider

False spiders actually prey on black widow spiders and other hazardous spiders

Fire-Bellied Toad

Found across mainland Europe and Asia!

Firefly

The firefly produces some of the most efficient light in the world

Fishing Cat

Scoops fish out of the water using it's paw!

Flea

Adult fleas can jump up to 7 inches in the air

Fly

There are more than 240,000 different species!

Flying Squirrel

Can glide up to 90 meters!

Fox

Only 12 species are considered "true foxes"

Frog

There are around 7,000 different species!

Fruit Bat

Among the largest bats in the world

Fruit Fly

Fruit flies are among the most common research animals in the world

Fulvous Whistling Duck

They build a ramp from their nest, which leads to a nearby water source

Gadwall

They make many sounds when trying to attract a mate.

Gazelle

Named for the Arabic word for love poems

Gecko

There are thought to be over 2,000 species!

Gerbil

Originally known as the Desert Rat!

German Cockroach

The most common type of urban roach

Gharial

Males can blow bubbles using the bump on their snout!

Glass Lizard

Can grow up to 4ft long!

Glowworm

Found inhabiting dense woodland and caves!

Gnat

Males form large mating swarms at dusk

Goat

Most closely related to the Sheep!

Goldcrest

The goldcrest never starts moving and needs to consume for most of the day to survive. Therefore, in the colder months, it's best that eat 90% a day.

Golden Eagle

Their calls sound like high-pitched screams, but they are quiet most of the time.

Golden Oriole

Migrates between Europe and Asia!

Goonch Catfish

The goonch catfish, or giant devil catfish, is one of the most fierce freshwater fish.

Goose

There are 29 different species!

Grasshopper

There are 11,000 known species!

Green Bee-Eater

Mainly eats honeybees!

Griffon Vulture

Can spot a dead animal from thousands of feet away

Gypsy Moth

One of the most invasive species in the world

Hamster

Able to run as quickly backwards as forwards!

Hare

Can reach speeds of over 50 mph!

Hawk Moth Caterpillar

Many hawk moth caterpillars eat toxins from plants, but don’t sequester them the way milkweed butterflies do. Most toxins are excreted.

Hedgehog

Thought to be one of the oldest mammals on Earth!

Heron

Inhabits wetlands around the world!

Honey Bee

There are only 8 recognized species!

Hoopoe

Stunning bird with a stinky way to deter predators!

Horse

Has evolved over 50 million years!

Horsefly

Horseflies have been seen performing Immelmann turns, much like fighter jets.

Housefly

The fly has no teeth

Human

Thought to have orignated 200,000 years ago!

Huntsman Spider

Some huntsman spiders have an interesting way of moving around. Some cartwheel while others do handsprings or backflips.

Ibis

Found in swamps, marshes and wetlands!

Indian Cobra

One of the Big Four.

Indian Elephant

Found throughout south-east Asia!

Indian python

Kaa from Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book was an Indian Python.

Insects

There are an estimated 30 million species!

Jacana

The jacana has the ability to swim underwater

Jackal

Can maintain speeds of 16 km/h!

Jerboa

Tiny rodent with a kangaroo-like jump!

Jumping Spider

Some can jump 50 times the length of their bodies

Kiang

The kiang, native to the Tibetan Plateau, is the largest of the wild asses!

King Cobra

They are the longest venomous snake in the world.

King Quail

Females look similar to males but don’t come in shades of blue

Kingfisher

Inhabits wetlands and woodlands worldwide!

Ladybug

There are more than 5,000 species worldwide!

Leech

Has 10 pairs of eyes!

Leopard Cat

There are 11 different species!

Leopard Gecko

The first ever domesticated lizard! There are now more than 100 unique color morphs thanks to selective breeding.

Liger

The offspring of a lion and tiger parents!

Lizard

There are around 5,000 different species!

Locust

Each locust can eat its weight in plants each day.

Long-Eared Owl

Ear tufts make it look bigger!

Long-Tailed Tit

Often hangs upside down while feeding!

Macaque

Macaque females will pass on their social rankings to their daughters

Magpie

They are found across Europe, Asia and Africa!

Marmot

A marmot spends 80% of its life below ground

Masked Palm Civet

Found throughout Asia, India and China!

Mayfly

There are 2,500 known species worldwide!

Mealybug

They have a symbiotic relationship with ants.

Merganser

They line their nests with their feathers

Millipede

Some species have a poisonous bite!

Mole

Primarily hunts and feeds on Earthworms!

Mole Cricket

Adult Mole crickets may fly as far as 5 miles during mating season and are active most of the year.

Mongoose

Range in size from just 1 to 3 foot!

Mongrel

Has characteristics of two or more breeds!

Monitor Lizard

Some species are thought to carry a weak venom!

Monkey

There are around 260 known species!

Monocled Cobra

The monocled cobra is responsible for the highest fatality rate of any snake in all of Thailand.

Moorhen

Feeds on aquatic insects and water-spiders!

Mosquito

Only the female mosquito actually sucks blood

Moth

There are 250,000 different species!

Mouse

Found on every continent on Earth!

Mule

The offspring of a horse and donkey parents!

Muntjac

The muntjac is the smallest type of deer in the world

Musk Deer

The glands of a musk deer can sell for up to $45,000 on the black market.

Neanderthal

Roamed Asia and Europe for around 100,000 years!

Nematode

Nematodes range in size from 1/10 of an inch to 28 feet long

Newt

Able to regrow lost or damaged limbs!

Nightingale

Named more than 1,000 years ago!

No See Ums

There are more than 5,000 species.

Northern Pintail

Northern pintails migrate at night with speeds reaching 48 miles per hour!

Orb Weaver

Females are about four times the size of males

Osprey

They reuse nesting sites for 70 years!

Otter

There are 13 different species worldwide

Owl

The owl can rotate its head some 270 degrees

Pangolin

Bad eyesight, but great sense of smell

Parakeet

Monk parakeets are the only parakeets that actually build nests. They’re also the only parakeets to nest in great colonies.

Parrot

Can live for up to 100 years!

Peppered Moth

Teachers in schools often use the evolution of the peppered moth as a good example of Darwin’s theory of natural selection.

Peregrine Falcon

Fastest animal on Earth

Pheasant

Females lay between 8 and 12 eggs per clutch!

Pheasant-tailed Jacana

The pheasant-tailed jacana is the only species in its family that migrates long distances.

Pig

Thought to have been domesticated in 9,000 BC!

Pigeon

They can find their way back to their nests from up to 1300 miles away.

Pika

Found in mountainous regions and rocky areas

Pit Viper

Pit vipers's fangs fold up into their mouths when they don't need them.

Pond Skater

There are 500 different species!

Porcupine

There are 30 different species worldwide!

Praying Mantis

The mantis can turn its head 180 degrees.

Quail

Inhabits woodland and forest areas worldwide!

Rabbit

There are more than 300 different species!

Rat

Omnivores that eat anything!

Rat Snakes

Rat snakes are constrictors from the Colubridae family of snakes.

Red Panda

There are less than 3,000 left in the wild!

Rhesus Macaque

Rhesus Macaques are the most widely distributed primate in terms of geographic diversity

Rhinoceros

It's horns are made from keratin!

River Turtle

Inhabits freshwater habitats around the world!

Robin

There are more than 45 species in Australia alone!

Rodents

The capybara, the world’s largest rodent, likes to be in and around bodies of water. Because of this, the Catholic Church in South America decided that it was a fish, and people were allowed to eat it during Lent and First Fridays.

Rooster

Will mate with the entire flock!

Russel’s Viper

A Russel's viper strike is so forceful it can lift its entire body off the ground.

Sable Ferret

Ferrets were used during the Revolutionary War to keep down the rat population.

Salamander

There are more than 700 different species!

Sambar

Male sambars will compete for mates by clashing together with their antlers

Sarus Crane

Parents use low calls to tell their chicks to freeze and lie still when danger lurks.

Scorpion

There are around 2,000 known species!

Sea Eagle

The sea eagle tends to mate for life with a single partner

Seahorse

Males give birth to up to 1,000 offspring!

Sheep

Around 35 million in the English countryside!

Short-Eared Owl

The short-eared owl is one of the most widespread owl species in the world, covering five continents.

Shrew

The spinal column of the shrew Scutisorex somereni is so strong and reinforced that it can support the weight of an adult human.

Shrimp

There are 2,000 different species worldwide!

Skink Lizard

Some skinks lay eggs in some habitats while giving birth to skinklets in other habitats.

Slow Worm

Found widely throughout British gardens!

Slug

They glide around on one foot, which is aided by the slime they produce

Smokybrown Cockroach

Has up to 45 eggs per egg case

Snail

There are nearly 1,000 different species!

Snake

There are around 4,000 known species worldwide

Snow Leopard

Unlike other big cats, snow leopards don’t roar.

Sparrow

There are 140 different species!

Spider Wasp

They prey on spiders to feed their larvae or they parasitize other spider wasps.

Squirrel

Small rodents found in woodlands worldwide!

Stick Insect

There are more than 3,000 different species!

Stoat

Average adults weigh about 200 grams!

Stork

They can’t sing like other birds.

Swan

Populations have been affected by pollution!

Takin

The takin can leap some 6 feet through the air

Tangerine Leopard Gecko

Unlike most geckos, tangerine leopard geckos have movable eyelids.

Tarantula Hawk

Tarantula hawks are excellent pollinators, especially for milkweed.

Termite

Their mounds can be up to 9 meters tall!

Thrush

The American robin is called the robin because its red breast reminded European settlers of the robin back in the old country.

Tibetan Fox

Tibetan foxes are not territorial and will share a hunting ground with other mated pairs.

Tick

They inject hosts with a chemical that stops them from feeling the pain of the bite

Tiger

The largest feline in the world!

Tiger Beetle

The adult tiger beetle is one of the fastest land insects in the world

Tokay Gecko

The Tokay gecko gets its onomatopoeic name from its "To-kay!" barking call.

Tortoise

Can live until they are more than 150 years old!

Tree Frog

Found in warmer jungles and forests!

Tree Viper (Bamboo Viper)

Pit vipers can strike accurately at moving objects less than .5 degrees Farenheit warmer than the background.

Turtles

Some species of aquatic turtles can get up to 70 percent of their oxygen through their butt.

Vinegaroon

Vinegaroons can spray 19 times before the glands are depleted

Viper

Vipers are one of the most widespread groups of snakes and inhabit most

Vulture

There are 30 different species worldwide!

Wasp

There are around 75,000 recognised species!

Water Buffalo

Has been domesticated for thousands of years!

Water Dragon

Spends most of it's time in the trees!

Weasel

The smallest carnivorous mammal in the world!

White Ferret / Albino Ferrets

There are two different types of white ferrets!

White Tiger

None have been seen in the wild for 50 years!

Wild Boar

Males have a top tusk to sharpen the bottom one!

Wolf

Thought to date back more than 300,000 years!

Wolf Spider

Carnivorous arachnid that hunts its prey.

Woodlouse

This animal can roll up into a ball

Woodlouse Spider

Unlike most spiders, woodlouse spiders don’t build a web.

Woodpecker

There are 200 different species!

Worm

Doesn’t have eyes.

Wryneck

They feign death by making their bodies limp and closing their eyes.

Yak

Yaks can live at altitudes up to 20,000 feet--the highest of any land-dwelling mammal.

Zebu

There are around 75 different species!

Nepalese Animals List

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About the Author

My name is Corinna! In my profile photo you can see me with one of my two cats, Bisky! The other's name is Yma and she's a beautiful black Bombay kitty. I'm 24 years old and I live in Birmingham, AL with my partner Anastasia and like to spend my free time making music, collecting records and reading. Some other animals I've owned were a hamster, 2 chihuahuas and many different kinds of fish.