Second edition of Birds of Nepal launched

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 28: A field guide book “Birds of Nepal” (Nepalka Charaharu) in Nepali version (second edition), translated by reputed ornithologist Dr. Hem Sagar Baral was unveiled here on Tuesday.

The handy book, originally written by Dr. Baral, Richard Grimmett, Carol Inskipp and Tim Inskipp in 2016 has been translated into Nepali targeting Nepali field guides. 

The first Nepali edition was published in 2003 in which 861 species of birds were mentioned, and 27 more species of birds have been added in the new version of the book in Nepali.

Unveiling the book, Director General at the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Dr. Ram Chandra Kandel said that the book is important for the people who are interested in nature conservation and nature guide. “The book provides guidelines of the situation of habitat and challenges to biodiversity conservation,” Dr. Kandel said.

Dr. Baral, who is also the country director for Zoological Society of London, said that he had collected various Nepali names at a time when the local names were about to disappear. He said that the names of the birds had a long history. Some of the names were mentioned in the ancient Vedic Sanskrit texts as well.

He also said that the species of birds were also mentioned in all the four Vedas which showed that a high importance was given to the birds from the very ancient time. Dr. Baral said that 61 species of birds were mentioned in the Atharvaved.

According to Dr. Baral, the 700 names of the birds mentioned in the book are taken from Sanskrit.

The book has provided clear images of birds with their habitat, geographical situation, environment, their species, forest, uphill/low land and other various descriptions. The book has 386 pages with 124 colourful pages and 790 pictures of birds.

Chairperson of Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN) Karan Bahadur Shahi commented on the book. He said the book was a product of Dr. Baral’s hard work and passion for ecological conservation.

Professor Tej Bahadur Thapa, head at the Central Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University, said that the book highlights the importance of the local environment as the local name of birds and its cultural relations are mentioned. 

Bhagwan Dahal, president of the Nepal Ornithologists' Association, said, "It is our duty to work in conservation field to spread knowledge about birds. This book will be useful and effective for achieving that goal.

Ornithologist Tulasi Subedi of Himalayan Nature said that his organisation has fulfilled its obligation to bring books in Nepali as most of the books on birds are in English. "Nepali language publishing is a priority of Himalayan Nature," he said. "The book is expected to benefit the general public."

The book has been published by Himalayan Nature and will be distributed free of cost to the people and organisations working for ecology conservation.