Area : 1325 sq.. km.
Established : Established in 1983 and gazetted
in 1987.
Location:
Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve lies in the
Rukum, Myagdi and Baglung Districts in the Dhaulagiri
Himal range in western Nepal. Putha, Churen
and Gurja Himal extend over the northern boundary
of the reserve.
Feature:
This is the only hunting reserve in the country,
attracting Nepalese and foreign sports hunters
with blue sheep and other game animals. The
reserve is divided into six blocs for hunting
management purposes.
The reserve is characterized by alpine sub-alpine,
and high temperate vegetation. Common plant
species include fir, pine, birch, rhododendron,
hemlock, oak, juniper and spruce. Pasture land
at higher elevations occupies more than 50%
of the total area of the reserve.
The reserve is one of the prime habitats for
blue sheep, a highly coveted trophy. Other animals
found are leopard, goral, serow, Himalayan tahr,
Himalayan black bear, barking deer, wild
boar, rhesus macaque, langur and mouse hare.
Pheasants and partridges are common
and their viable population in the reserve permits
controlled hunting. Endangered animals in the
reserve include musk deer, wolf, red panda,
cheer pheasant and danphe.