Langtang National Park assumes hundreds of animals might have been killed in the avalanches.
Park officials believe the avalanches, triggered by earthquakes since the one that struck on April 25, must have buried many of the wildlife, including Ghorals, musk deer, Thars, and wild boars, among others."With the destruction of almost 20,000 trees in the forest, many animals were killed and those still alive have lost their natural habitat," said Gautam Poudel of Langtang National Park and Buffer Zone Support Project.
Preliminary report states that loss to the flora and fauna in the Langtang region could run into millions of rupees.
A survey conducted by the national park last year had found 14 herds of Ghoral with the total population of 344 Ghorals.
The park authorities said four herds of Ghoral were found buried in the avalanches so far. One herd consists of about 18 to 20 Ghorals.
The initial assessment also observed that surviving animals look disoriented after the avalanches and they are more scattered than they were earlier.
Although the disaster has had no significant impact on the highly endangered snow leopards, experts worry that the species will have difficulties finding its preys..
Habitat of red pandas, yet another near extinct species found in the Himalayan region, is also at high risk following the landslide at Ghyangphedi of Nuwakot district. Langtang National Park spreads in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Sindhupalchowk district. After Syafru of Rasuwa, Ghyangphedi is considered the main habitat for the endangered red pandas.
Meanwhile, park officials said they have stepped up patrolling in the park to curb the rise in poaching of wildlife post-earthquake.
Sadly, the whereabouts of 10 Nepali Army personnel of Narayan Dal Battalion, deputed at the national park, are still unknown.
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