Nepal's endangered wildlife and medicinal herbs
Meet sixteen animals and plants of Nepal, from the red panda and the gharial to satuwa, jatamasi and tulsi. Find out where each lives and why it matters, then sort them.
Core concept
Many of Nepal's animals and herbs are endangered by habitat loss, hunting, over-collection and climate change and are protected by law, while common herbs grown at home are used in traditional remedies; conserving them keeps nature in balance
Topic: Nature and the environment
From the Terai's grasslands to the high Himalaya, Nepal has a huge variety of life. But many species are in danger. Forests are cut and grasslands farmed, poachers hunt animals for skins, horns and scales, and traders dig up rare herbs faster than they can grow back. Climate change adds to this: as the mountains warm, alpine plants and animals are pushed higher, with nowhere further to go. Endangered species are protected by Nepal's laws, and national parks and community forests help them recover. Nepal is also rich in medicinal herbs. Some, such as satuwa and jatamasi, are now rare and their collection is controlled. Others, such as tulsi and besar, are grown in almost every home and used in simple traditional remedies. (Always see a health worker for real illness.)
What you will learn
- Name endangered animals and plants of Nepal and why they are at risk.
- Explain how habitat loss, hunting, over-collection and climate change threaten species.
- Name common medicinal herbs and their traditional uses.
- Describe ways of conserving wildlife and herbs.
Before you start
- Know what a habitat is.
Materials
- Pictures of Nepal's wildlife and herbs, a tulsi plant or turmeric from the kitchen
Equipment
- A map of Nepal's protected areas
Procedure
- Pick a card and find out where it lives and why it matters.
- Do this for at least eight cards.
- Sort every card into endangered animals, rare protected herbs and common home herbs.