HUNTING
Introduction
It may seem incongruous in an age of ecological awakening but
the Himalayan kingdom allows controlled hunting of some animal
species. The days of the big game hunter are clearly over, there
being a time when the royalty, British officers and other civil
and military officials hunted the big game of the Terai to near
extinction in the 19th and first half of the 20th century. The
wildlife that can be hunted today include the ungulates of the
upper regions, blue sheep and the Himalayan tahr.
Besides
the national parks and wildlife reserves that are dealt with earlier
in this booklet, there is a hunting reserve at Dhorpatan. The
hunting reserve covers an area of 1.325 sq km spread over the
southern flank of Mt.Dhaulagiri 1 (8,167m). The range is roughly
falls within the three districts of Rukum, Baglung and Myagdi
in Western Nepal.
The
flora of the region is characteristic of the mixed zone — lower
altitude regions are characterized by mixed hardwood forest and
many of the plant species that are adapted to the drier climate
of the north. Tree species include fir, pine, rhododendron, juniper,
birch, hemlock, oak and spruce. As with many other protected regions
of Nepal, the reserve includes within its boundaries several villages
— inhabited by hill tribes and peoples of Tibetan descent who
supplement farming with nomadic pastoralism and trade.
The
Game
Dhorpatan is located to the higher north at altitudes
ranging from 2000-3500m. Some of the other parks at this altitude
include the Khatpad National Park in the far-west and the Shivapuri
wildlife sanctuary near Kathmandu. Dhorpatan is one of the prime
habitats of the blue sheep, a highly prized game animal and the
main target of hunters headed for the region. Other game species
are the ghoral, serow, the himalayan tahr, black bear, pheasant
and partridge. Endangered species here include the Chir pheasant
and the red panda.
Controlled
hunting is allowed here with a proper license and is restricted
to certain times of the year. Game hunting licenses are issued
by the department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation,
Kathmandu. The office is located in Babar Mahal. There are also
a few agencies that organize and make all arrangements for hunting
expeditions. Local travel agents as well as the department of
wildlife can put you through to these agencies.
Dhorpatan
is not only a destination for the game hunter. It is also an attractive
destination for the wildlife enthusiast and trekker, as protection
has helped animal numbers increase in this remote and rarely visited
region.
Access
and Accommodation
Dhorpatan is accessible from Pokhara, from where a five-day
hike will get you there. For those that do not want to make the
arduous trek, there is the option of flying to Dolpa, one of Nepal’s
dream landscapes — windswept, rolling and mystical. Charter flights
by helicopter are also available for those on group expeditions.
Special permits are required to trek to the region. Please inquire
with your agency.
The
best time to visit Dhorpatan is during the spring and autumn,
Feb-April and Aug-October. Winters can get terribly cold in this
region and access becomes difficult. Most accommodation here is
in tented camps provided by the agencies or at one of the villages
in the region. For those willing to rough it out, here is the
chance for more than adventure.
