New species of birds and mammals found in Nepal

Kathmandu, June 5 (UNI) Twenty new species of birds, four mammals and more than 700 of the flowering plants have been found in Nepal.

The new bird species include Moustached Warbler, Greater White- fronted Goose, Spot-winged Rosefinch, Pallas's Bunting, Red-throated Loon, Black-and-yellow Grosbeak, and Rufous-tailed Wheatear.

The new mammal species are Binturong, India Mongoose, Himalayan Marmot, and the Tibetan gazelle, the state-run The Rising Nepal said.

Nepal has increased its protected areas of wild life by nearly 9,000 sq. km during the last ten years covering nearly 20 per cent of the country's land. Forest covers 29 per cent of the total land of the country.

Protected areas include nine national parks, three wildlife reserves, three conservation areas and a hunting reserve.

Under the Forest Act 1993, the government of Nepal has banned the collection, use, sale, distribution, transportation and export of three species since 2001. They are the Panchaunle, Okhar ko bokara (bark) and Ketuki.

Snow capped mountain with cold weather, hills with temperate and warm weather in the plains provide suitable climate for various species in the country. So far, nearly 850 species of birds have been found in Nepal.

UNI