About this quiz
50 questions covering every section of the note on Nepal's protected-area system, national parks, wildlife and hunting reserves, conservation areas, Ramsar and World Heritage sites and endangered wildlife.
This Lok Sewa practice set has 50 multiple-choice questions (Subject: General Knowledge · For: Kharidar, Nayab Subba, Section Officer · Level: Medium). Take the quiz above first; after that, use the study list below to revise every question with its correct answer and a short explanation.
Study list: all 50 questions with answers and explanations
In which year was the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act of Nepal made?
- A) 2019 BS
- B) 2029 BS ✔
- C) 2037 BS
- D) 2049 BS
Why: The Act was made in 2029 BS (1973 AD), and Chitwan National Park followed in 2030 BS.
Which was the first national park of Nepal?
- A) Sagarmatha National Park
- B) Langtang National Park
- C) Chitwan National Park ✔
- D) Rara National Park
Why: Chitwan National Park was established in 2030 BS (1973 AD), before any other park.
How many national parks does Nepal have after the creation of Chhayanath National Park?
- A) 13 ✔
- B) 12
- C) 11
- D) 14
Why: Nepal had 12 national parks until Chhayanath in Mugu was added in 2082 BS, making 13.
In the protected-area system of Nepal, what is the main purpose of a buffer zone?
- A) To allow licensed hunting of blue sheep
- B) To serve as a military training ground
- C) To keep all people out of the forest at all times
- D) To let local communities use resources in a managed way and share park income ✔
Why: Buffer zones surround parks and reserves so that local people can use forest resources under rules and receive part of the park's income.
Roughly what share of Nepal's land is covered by protected areas?
- A) About 10 percent
- B) About 15 percent
- C) A little more than 23 percent ✔
- D) About 40 percent
Why: Protected areas together cover a little more than 23 percent of the country, nearly one-fourth.
Which national park lies entirely in Kanchanpur district and is famous for the largest herd of swamp deer?
- A) Shuklaphanta ✔
- B) Bardiya
- C) Banke
- D) Khaptad
Why: Shuklaphanta National Park in Kanchanpur is known for its large herd of swamp deer (barasingha).
Which two wildlife reserves were upgraded to national parks in 2073 BS?
- A) Koshi Tappu and Parsa
- B) Shuklaphanta and Parsa ✔
- C) Bardiya and Banke
- D) Koshi Tappu and Shuklaphanta
Why: Shuklaphanta and Parsa were upgraded in 2073 BS (2017 AD), leaving Koshi Tappu as the only wildlife reserve.
The Karnali river, home to the Gangetic dolphin, flows along the edge of which national park?
- A) Parsa
- B) Chitwan
- C) Shuklaphanta
- D) Bardiya ✔
Why: The Karnali river along Bardiya National Park is home to the Gangetic dolphin.
Banke National Park was declared in which year?
- A) 2058 BS
- B) 2073 BS
- C) 2067 BS ✔
- D) 2045 BS
Why: Banke National Park was declared in 2010 AD (2067 BS). It joins Bardiya National Park, so tigers and other wildlife have a much larger connected habitat.
Which is the smallest national park of Nepal?
- A) Shivapuri Nagarjun
- B) Rara ✔
- C) Khaptad
- D) Shuklaphanta
Why: Rara National Park, about 106 sq km in Mugu and Jumla, is the smallest national park.
Which is the largest national park of Nepal?
- A) Langtang
- B) Makalu Barun
- C) Sagarmatha
- D) Shey Phoksundo ✔
Why: Shey Phoksundo in Dolpa is the largest national park, even after its Mugu portion became Chhayanath.
Chhayanath National Park, the newest national park of Nepal, is located in which district?
- A) Mugu ✔
- B) Dolpa
- C) Humla
- D) Jumla
Why: Chhayanath National Park was created in Mugu in 2082 BS from the Mugu portion of Shey Phoksundo.
The holy lake Gosaikunda and the red panda are linked with which national park?
- A) Rara
- B) Khaptad
- C) Langtang ✔
- D) Makalu Barun
Why: Gosaikunda lies in Langtang National Park (Rasuwa), which is also known for the red panda.
Which national park on the rim of Kathmandu valley protects the source of the Bagmati river?
- A) Langtang
- B) Shivapuri Nagarjun ✔
- C) Chitwan
- D) Parsa
Why: Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park guards the source of the Bagmati and supplies drinking water to the valley.
Khaptad National Park, known for its grassy plateau and Khaptad Baba's ashram, spreads over which group of districts?
- A) Bajhang, Bajura, Doti and Achham ✔
- B) Dolpa and Mugu
- C) Darchula and Baitadi
- D) Kailali and Kanchanpur
Why: Khaptad National Park lies in Bajhang, Bajura, Doti and Achham of the far west.
Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve was set up mainly to protect which animal?
- A) Swamp deer
- B) Blackbuck
- C) One-horned rhinoceros
- D) Wild water buffalo (arna) ✔
Why: Koshi Tappu, on the Koshi river floodplain, was set up to protect the last wild water buffalo (arna) in Nepal. It is also an important bird area and Nepal's first Ramsar site.
Dhorpatan, the only hunting reserve of Nepal, spreads over which districts?
- A) Dolpa, Jumla and Mugu
- B) Gorkha, Lamjung and Manang
- C) Baglung, Rukum (East) and Myagdi ✔
- D) Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading
Why: Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve lies in Baglung, Rukum (East) and Myagdi, and blue sheep is the main game animal.
Which is the largest protected area of Nepal?
- A) Shey Phoksundo National Park
- B) Annapurna Conservation Area ✔
- C) Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve
- D) Kanchenjunga Conservation Area
Why: Annapurna Conservation Area, about 7,629 sq km, is bigger than any national park or reserve.
Which organisation manages the Annapurna Conservation Area?
- A) Nepal Army
- B) The local district office
- C) Ministry of Tourism
- D) National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) ✔
Why: Annapurna Conservation Area is run by the National Trust for Nature Conservation rather than directly by the government department.
The smallest protected area of Nepal, Krishnasar Conservation Area, is located in which district?
- A) Bardiya ✔
- B) Banke
- C) Kailali
- D) Dang
Why: Krishnasar (Blackbuck) Conservation Area, about 16.95 sq km, is at Khairapur in Bardiya.
Which conservation area lies in Darchula district of the far west?
- A) Gaurishankar
- B) Manaslu
- C) Api Nampa ✔
- D) Kanchenjunga
Why: Api Nampa Conservation Area, declared in 2010 AD, is in Darchula.
Which pair are the natural World Heritage Sites of Nepal?
- A) Langtang and Rara
- B) Sagarmatha and Chitwan ✔
- C) Chitwan and Bardiya
- D) Annapurna and Sagarmatha
Why: Sagarmatha National Park (1979) and Chitwan National Park (1984) are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
How many Ramsar sites does Nepal have, and which was the first?
- A) 9; Rara Lake
- B) 12; Phewa Lake
- C) 8; Gosaikunda
- D) 10; Koshi Tappu ✔
Why: Nepal has 10 Ramsar sites, and Koshi Tappu was the first, listed in 1987 AD.
Which Ramsar site of Nepal is a man-made reservoir in Kapilvastu district?
- A) Ghodaghodi Lake
- B) Mai Pokhari
- C) Beeshazar Lake
- D) Jagadishpur Reservoir ✔
Why: Jagadishpur Reservoir in Kapilvastu is a man-made wetland that was listed as a Ramsar site in 2003 AD.
Under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029, how many species in total are fully protected?
- A) 39 ✔
- B) 27
- C) 30
- D) 45
Why: The Act protects 27 mammals, 9 birds and 3 reptiles, which add up to 39 species.
Nepal's protected areas are managed by:
- A) DNPWC ✔
- B) Department of Forests
- C) NTNC only
- D) Army only
Why: The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), under the Ministry of Forests and Environment, manages national parks and reserves. Some conservation areas, such as Annapurna, are run by NTNC.
DNPWC was set up in:
- A) 1980 AD ✔
- B) 1973 AD
- C) 1990 AD
- D) 2002 AD
Why: DNPWC was set up in 1980 AD (2037 BS) to manage the growing number of parks and reserves created after the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act of 2029 BS.
Chitwan National Park was established in:
- A) 1973 AD ✔
- B) 1976 AD
- C) 1984 AD
- D) 1988 AD
Why: Chitwan became Nepal's first national park in 1973 AD (2030 BS), mainly to protect the one-horned rhinoceros and the Bengal tiger in the inner Terai.
Sagarmatha National Park was established in:
- A) 1976 AD ✔
- B) 1973 AD
- C) 1984 AD
- D) 1991 AD
Why: Sagarmatha National Park in Solukhumbu was established in 1976 AD (2033 BS). It includes Mount Everest and was listed as a natural World Heritage Site in 1979.
Which two natural sites in Nepal are UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
- A) Chitwan and Sagarmatha ✔
- B) Rara and Langtang
- C) Bardiya and Banke
- D) Khaptad and Makalu Barun
Why: Nepal's two natural World Heritage Sites are Sagarmatha National Park (listed 1979) and Chitwan National Park (listed 1984). Rara, Langtang and Bardiya are not on the list.
Rara National Park, the smallest, lies in:
- A) Mugu (and Jumla) ✔
- B) Dolpa
- C) Humla
- D) Kalikot
Why: Rara National Park lies mainly in Mugu, with a small part in Jumla. At about 106 sq km it is the smallest national park, and it protects Rara Lake, Nepal's biggest lake.
Shey Phoksundo, the largest national park, lies in:
- A) Dolpa and Mugu ✔
- B) Mustang
- C) Manang
- D) Humla
Why: Shey Phoksundo lies mainly in Dolpa and formerly also covered part of Mugu; that Mugu part became Chhayanath National Park in 2082 BS. It is still the largest national park.
Bardiya was upgraded to a national park in:
- A) 1988 AD ✔
- B) 1976 AD
- C) 2010 AD
- D) 2017 AD
Why: Bardiya was first a wildlife reserve and was upgraded to a national park in 1988 AD (2045 BS). It is now one of the best places in Nepal to see tigers.
Which two reserves became national parks in 2017?
- A) Shuklaphanta and Parsa ✔
- B) Koshi Tappu and Dhorpatan
- C) Bardiya and Banke
- D) Chitwan and Parsa
Why: In 2017 AD (2073 BS), Shuklaphanta and Parsa wildlife reserves were upgraded to national parks. That left Koshi Tappu as Nepal's only wildlife reserve.
Gangetic dolphins are found in the Karnali in which park?
- A) Bardiya ✔
- B) Chitwan
- C) Banke
- D) Rara
Why: The endangered Gangetic dolphin lives in the Karnali river along Bardiya National Park. Dolphins are also seen in the Koshi, but Bardiya's Karnali stretch is the best-known habitat.
Banke National Park was declared in:
- A) 2010 AD ✔
- B) 2002 AD
- C) 1984 AD
- D) 2017 AD
Why: 2010 AD.
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park lies on the rim of:
- A) Kathmandu valley ✔
- B) Pokhara valley
- C) Chitwan
- D) Dang
Why: Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park lies on the northern rim of Kathmandu valley. It protects the source of the Bagmati river and supplies drinking water to the valley.
Langtang National Park includes:
- A) Gosaikunda and red panda habitat ✔
- B) Rara lake
- C) Phewa lake
- D) Koshi river
Why: Langtang National Park (mainly Rasuwa) includes the holy lake Gosaikunda and good habitat for the red panda. Rara and Phewa lakes are in other parts of Nepal.
Khaptad National Park is known for its:
- A) Grasslands and the hermit Khaptad Baba ✔
- B) Dolphins
- C) Rhinos
- D) Desert
Why: Khaptad National Park in the far west is known for its high grassy plateau (patan) and the ashram of the hermit Khaptad Baba. It spreads over Bajhang, Bajura, Doti and Achham.
Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve was set up mainly to protect:
- A) Wild water buffalo (arna) ✔
- B) Rhino
- C) Tiger
- D) Snow leopard
Why: Arna.
Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve lies mainly in:
- A) Baglung, Rukum and Myagdi ✔
- B) Chitwan
- C) Jhapa
- D) Kailali
Why: Dhorpatan, Nepal's only hunting reserve, lies in Baglung, Rukum (East) and Myagdi. Licensed hunting of species such as blue sheep is allowed there under rules.
The largest protected area of Nepal is:
- A) Annapurna Conservation Area ✔
- B) Shey Phoksundo
- C) Chitwan
- D) Makalu Barun
Why: Annapurna Conservation Area, about 7,629 sq km, is the largest protected area. Shey Phoksundo is the largest national park, but a conservation area is a different category.
Annapurna Conservation Area is managed by:
- A) NTNC ✔
- B) DNPWC directly
- C) WWF
- D) Nepal Army
Why: Annapurna Conservation Area is managed by the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), a national non-profit body, with local community involvement, not directly by DNPWC.
Krishnasar Conservation Area protects:
- A) Blackbuck ✔
- B) Rhino
- C) Elephant
- D) Musk deer
Why: Krishnasar Conservation Area at Khairapur, Bardiya, protects the blackbuck (कृष्णसार). At about 17 sq km it is Nepal's smallest protected area.
Api Nampa Conservation Area lies in:
- A) Darchula ✔
- B) Bajhang
- C) Humla
- D) Doti
Why: Api Nampa Conservation Area, declared in 2010 AD, lies in Darchula in the far west and is named after Mount Api and Mount Nampa.
Which is a man-made Ramsar site in Nepal?
- A) Jagadishpur Reservoir ✔
- B) Rara
- C) Gokyo
- D) Phoksundo
Why: Jagadishpur Reservoir in Kapilvastu was built for irrigation but became an important bird wetland. It was listed as a Ramsar site in 2003, unlike the natural lakes Rara, Gokyo and Phoksundo.
Ghodaghodi Tal Ramsar site is in:
- A) Kailali ✔
- B) Kanchanpur
- C) Bardiya
- D) Dang
Why: Ghodaghodi Tal is a group of lakes and wetlands in Kailali district. It was listed as a Ramsar site in 2003 for its birds, turtles and other wetland life.
Beeshazar Tal lies in:
- A) Chitwan ✔
- B) Nawalparasi
- C) Makwanpur
- D) Parsa
Why: Beeshazar Tal ('twenty thousand lakes') is a wetland in Chitwan, in the buffer zone of Chitwan National Park. It is a Ramsar site known for birds and crocodiles.
Buffer zones around parks mainly aim to:
- A) Share benefits with local people ✔
- B) Allow hunting
- C) Build industries
- D) Extract minerals
Why: Buffer zones let local people use forest resources under rules, and a share of park income goes to community development. This builds local support for conservation.
Makalu Barun National Park was established in:
- A) 1991 AD ✔
- B) 1976 AD
- C) 1984 AD
- D) 2002 AD
Why: Makalu Barun National Park, in Sankhuwasabha and Solukhumbu, was established in 1991 AD (2048 BS). It protects the area around Mount Makalu and the Barun valley.