New animals recorded in Shivapuri National Park

Kathmandu, November 16

Four new animal species have been recorded in Shivapuri-Nagarjun national Park that park lies in the capital city of the country.

After three years of continuous camera trapping from 2013 to 2015, wildlife experts found the Himalayan black bear, Himalayan ghoral, serow and civet for the first time in the history of Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park.

According to expert Mukesh Kumar Chalise, the Himalayan black bear, Himalayan ghoral and Himalayan serow are found especially in the Himalayan region in and around mountain areas.

Himalayan black bears have a black coat with a light brown muzzle and a pale yellow crescent on their chest. On average, they measure from 56 to 65 inches nose to tail and weigh from 200 to 265 pounds, though they may weigh as much as 400 pounds in the fall when they are fattening up for hibernation.

The Himalayan ghoral is a bovine species found across the Himalayas.

It is listed as near threatened on the IUCN red List because the population is thought to be declining significantly due to habitat loss and hunting for meat.