The Great Himalayan National Park is home to more than 375 faunal species. So far, 31 mammals, 181 birds, 3 reptiles, 9 amphibians, 11 annelids, 17 mollusks and 127 insects belonging to six orders have been identified and documented. Most of the Himalayan fauna has been given protection under the high priority protection category of Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The state government of Himachal Pradesh has banned hunting in the state for more than ten years: The ban continues.

A trek of 35 to 45 kms. in any of the Park's valleys brings one into the high altitude habitat (3,500m and above) of animals such as blue sheep, snow leopard, Himalayan brown bear, Himalayan tahr, and musk deer. Best sightings can be made in autumn (September-November) as animals start their seasonal migration to lower altitudes.

Mammals
Blue Sheep
Males are handsome with slate blue fur and black chests; weight about 60kgs, unlike smaller females. Prefers grassy slopes near cliffs from 3500m upwards to the limits of vegetation. Live in herds of about 5 to 20.




Himalayan Brown Bear
Usually herbivorous feeding on grass and herbs. Some become carnivorous killing sheep, gloats or ponies. Males may grow to 1.7m in length; females are smaller.

Snow Leopard
One of the most beautiful of the large cats with handsomely marked coat. Inhabits the highest inner portions of the Park contiguous with the Pin Valley National Park. Regular sightings of snow leopard are reported. First confirmed sighting in GHNP in Tirath, the headwater of Tirthan river, in July 1997.

Himalayan Tahr
A wild goat which lives in the steepest precipices. May go up to 5000m altitude. Males have a distinctive, dark, shaggy ruff and a long mantle of paler hairs: they weigh up to 100 kg; females about 60 kg. Live in groups as large as 20 to 30.




Musk Deer
Member of deer family though different appearance. Does not have any antlers. Males have backward-curving tusk-like incisors in the upper jaw. Unlike other deer, they have a gall bladder and a uniquely developed scent gland in the abdominal region which produces valuable musk. In some parts of GHNP they reach a relatively high density of 6 to 9 Musk Deer per sq. km. Rated high on the endangered species list. Hunted nearly to extinction for its musk.

At the low to middle altitude in Tirthan, Sainj and Jiwa valleys (altitude of about 2000 to 3,000m) the following animals are found:
Serow
A goat-antelope which is heavily built and of about 1m height. One of the least studied mountain animals. Solitary life in moist gorges with thick vegetation; moves with amazing speed.






Rhesus Macaque
Common monkey of northern India. The Himalayan populations are larger, with longer fur than those in the plains. Large troops live near villages and forests. Mingles with humans, creating mischief. Has heavier winter coat in winters.





Barking Deer
Also known as Muntjac or Ribfaced Deer. Adult male 50 to 75 cms high to shoulders. Antlers small with short brow-tine. Females have bristly hair in place of horns. In GHNP seen in thickly wooded hills from 1,500 to 2,500m altitude.




Goral
A goat-antelope with yellowish gray or brown coat suffused with black. One of the best known Himalayan animals. Very well represented in GHNP. Lives in small groups. Best seen on grassy ridges at dawn and dusk. Throat has distinct white patch. Height at shoulder is 65 to 70 cms. Horns about 13 cms. Goral prefer elevations of 1000 to 3000m.



Certain mammals in GHNP prefer a wide altitude range, including:
Himalayan Black Bear
Associated with mixed broad leaf and conifer forests. Adult males weigh up to 180 kgs before hibernation; head-body length of 1.6m. A creamy white V pattern marks the chest. Well adapted for tree climbing. Can become carnivorous. Villagers close to GHNP dislike this animal as it destroys their maize crop and sometimes kills cattle.




Common Leopard

A sleek and agile cat with a tawny, reddish yellow coat marked with small close set black rosettes. Average length is about 215 cms. Lives in forests as well as in open country. Sighted up to 3,500m.








Red Fox
A richly coloured fox with long silky fur and a superb brush. The black backs to the upper half of its ears and white tip to its tail are distinguishing features. This fox can easily be seen in the high altitude areas of Dhel, Tirath and Rakti Sar.

Langur
Long-limbed, long-tailed, black faced monkey; heavily whiskered and thickly coated. Lives close to villages as well as in the forest areas. 60 to 75 cms height (while seated). Live in troops of 15 to 30 individuals, mostly on trees to 3,500m altitude.

Small Mammals of GHNP
Though small in size, these animals play a very important role in the food chain. They can be seen close to habitations, camping grounds and during the treks. Considered pests and enemies by farmers. Well protected in the Park.

Gray Shrew
Also known as 'musk rat.' Widely distributed; intolerant of rats and helps to keep them away.

House Mouse
Common house mouse of about 5 to 8cms length. Villagers try to kill this pest as they are voracious omnivores.

Royle's Mountain Vole
Small burrowing vole of about 8 to 10 cms length. Cylindrical body, tail is less than half the length of body. Fairly common at elevations above 3,000m. Prefers rocky grounds with coarse grass.

Indian Pika
Also known as "mouse hare"; 20 cms long, tail-less, mouse-like ears and hind feet. Gathers large piles of green vegetation for the winter season. Live at 2,800m and above.

Giant Indian Flying Squirrel
Lives between 2,000m up to the treeline. Nocturnal forest animal, with roosting in tree hollows. Feeds mainly on the central portion of leaves and walnuts.

Porcupine
Body length about 70 to 90 cms. Large rodents with hair modified into spines or quills. Favors rocky hill sides up to 2,500m. Usually lives in a burrow. Considered pests as they tend to damage crops.

Himalayan Palm Civet
Body length about 60 cms, tail about the same size. Coat may be uniform gray to tawny, darker on feet and tail; underparts white. White whiskers; body is without any marking or stripes. Forest dweller living in hollow trees. Favors fruits though preys on small birds and mammals.

Himalayan Weasel
Reddish-copper fur; body about 30 cm, tail 15 cm long. Found in dense forests from 1,500 to 5,000m altitude; also lives close to villages. Bold, good hunters.

Yellow-throated Marten
Larger than a weasel; body length 45 to 60 cms. Fur deep brown with yellow throat. Adapts to varying conditions. In GHNP it is found in forest areas up to treeline. Hunts by day and night.
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Birds
The birds of GHNP are an important part of the Park's biological diversity and an attraction for bird watchers. The Park falls within one of the globally important Endemic Bird Areas identified by the ICDP Biodiversity Project. Nearly 200 bird species including 132 passerines (small to medium sized, perching songbirds) and 51 non-passerines have been recorded in the Park. This suggests that the Park supports a substantial proportion of all the species occurring within its altitudinal range in the western Himalayas.

Important bird groups found in the Park include:
Pheasants (or Galliforms)
An important group of large, spectacular birds. GHNP is one of only two National Parks in the world with a population of the endangered Western Tragopan (also found in Machiara National Park, Pakistan). Another endangered pheasant, the Cheer pheasant is present on the steep, south-facing grassy slopes. Monal and Koklas, are in abundant in the temperate forest zone while Kaleej occurs in small numbers below 2,000m. Snow Partridge, Hill Partridge, and Himalayan Snowcock also occur.

Five Pheasants of the Great Himalayan National Park
Western Tragopan
The male is one of the world's most spectacular birds: black on the head, a deep crimson on face and mantle and orange on breast, the black belly and dark wings are spangled with star-like white specks. The female is dull brown. They occur in dense forest with undergrowth of bamboo or shrubs from 2000-3500 m, solitary in spring, but in family groups in fall: often seen in trees where they may eat leaf buds. Males can be heard calling in spring and in October. Within the Park, the maximum number of sightings have been in the forests of Basu, Shilt, Nada, and Chordwar in Tirthan Valley.

For the first time anywhere (1999), the Western Tragopan was radio-collared and used radio-telemetry to study its behavior, biology and natural history.

In the villages close to GHNP, the local name of Western Tragopan is Jujurana (Juju means bird and rana means king) i.e. the king of the birds. There is a local legend that this pheasant was created by the "Lord" and all the birds in the universe donated a feather each to give it color and unparalleled beauty.


Monal Pheasant
A large plump pheasant with a loud, ringing call. Males are mainly iridescent blue, green on the mantle and rufous on the neck, with a white patch on the lower back and an orange tail. The female is brown with white throat and white patch on upper tail. In the past the monal was hunted for its crest which is made-up of iridescent turquoise, wire-like, spatula tipped feathers, worn by local villagers on their caps. It is a prominent bird, well know to the local villagers and often recorded by the tourists and trekkers.






Koklas
The Koklas owes its name to the crow of the cock which is a loud, guttural kok-kok-kok...kokras. Males are brown streaked with silver, with dark green heads and a stiff crest; females duller with whitish throat patch. Koklas prefer dense undergrowth of Fir-Spruce forests, though they are also found in Oak-Deodar forests, between 2400-3100 m. altitude. Surveys indicate an increase in Koklash populations between 1996 and 1999.

White-crested Kaleej
A chicken-like, black and white pheasant with a red face and white crest; female all brown except for red face patch. Kaleej live in thickets of bamboo, and shrubs adjacent to cultivation and water sources. They also dwell in pure Silver Oak forest as well as mixed forest of Cedar, Blue Pine, and Brown Oak. Most of the roosting sites were observed in Silver Oak forests. They are seen at dusk and dawn and have been observed close to the villages in Ecodevelopment Project Area (EPA).

Cheer Pheasant
Brown with long, pointed tails, red faces and small crests, the sexes alike, they live in small groups on steep, grassy slopes with scattered trees. Cheer pheasants are found in very low numbers and they are difficult to observe, but they can often be heard calling at dusk. They have been sighted near Gati Pat in Jiwa Nal valley, and on the Park boundary close to the villages in Tirthan valley on the southern facing grassy slopes.


Other birds found in GHNP
Raptors
Both Himalayan Griffon vulture and Lammergeier are common in the Park, seen daily at all seasons. Golden Eagle and Common Buzzard are seen frequently at all seasons in the subalpine and alpine zones. Eurasian Sparrowhawk is common below the tree line. Black Eagle and Booted Eagles are less frequently seem. There have been rare sightings of the Peregrine Falcon.

Shorebirds
The Eurasian Woodcock and the Solitary Snipe. Both occur in summer and must breed within the park.

Pigeons
The Speckled Wood-Pigeon and Snow Pigeon are both common in the Park, as is the Oriental Turtle-Dove in summer.

Parakeets
The Slaty-headed Parakeet, is seen commonly in forest up to 2,200m altitude.

Cuckoos
Five species occur, all in summer: the most common are the Common Cuckoo and the Oriental Cuckoo.

Owls
The Collared Owlet and the Tawny Owl are both common. Other owls infrequently sighted include Mountain Scops-Owl, the Rock Eagle-Owl, and Short-eared Owl.

Other Non-Passerines
• Gray Nightjar: common during April-September
  up to 3,000m.
• Himalayan Swiftlets and Fork-tailed Swifts:
  recorded frequently from April to October;
  mainly over forests.
• White-throated Needletail: very infrequent
• Eurasian Hoopoe: up to 2,500m during
  April-September.
• Brown-fronted Woodpecker and Great Barbet:
  up to 2,000m
• Scaly-bellied Woodpecker and Himalayan Woodpecker:
  throughout the temperate forests.
• Speckled Piculet: only at the lowest
  altitudes (below 2,000m).

Passerines
The leaf-warblers (8 species), flycatchers (11 species), tits (11 species), and thrushes (12 species) are well represented, but the babblers and laughing-thrushes (14 species) are the most important and distinctive group. White-throated and chestnut-crowned laughing-thrushes are common in flocks and family parties in lower altitude forests, while variegated laughing-thrushes occur to the limits of the trees. The smaller babblers include yuhinas, sibias, shrike-babblers, minlas and fulvetas. Many of these occur in mixed-species flocks in late summer and it is common to fall in with parties containing ten or more species combing every level of the vegetation for food. In spring, the songs of warblers, thrushes and flycatchers fill the forest with music.
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Invertebrates
The invertebrates have been recognized as providers of "ecosystem services." They play an important role in maintaining various life processes and are a vital component of GHNP food chains. Other than flying insects, most of the invertebrates have limited powers of dispersal, and are very sensitive to disturbances in their habitats. They can be used as indicators of a healthy ecosystem.

Among invertebrates, earthworms, leeches and mollusks have been studied in the Park. During a recent study, 11 species of earthworm were recorded out of which two are restricted to the park. The leech diversity of the Park is confined to three species only (two aquatic and one terrestrial). Researchers have identified 14 species of mollusks, the majority of them being terrestrial. Three species of slugs have also been reported from the Park.

Insects
By virtue of their vast numbers of both species and individuals, the insects are vital determinants of terrestrial ecological processes in the Park. Their presence is determined by availability of food, suitable climatic conditions, and shelter from disturbance and natural enemies. Insects in GHNP can be broadly classified in three categories:

1. Vegetation feeders: mainly beetles and plant bugs (many families of these orders feed and depend on plant life).

2. Pollinators: flies, butterflies, moths and bees: (majority of pollinators belongs to these orders).

3. Biodiversity indicators: Tiger beetle, ground beetle and dragonflies (also for land use change).

Only six insect orders (e.g., beetles, wasps, flies, plant bugs, dragonflies, and butterflies) have been studied in the Park. The selected six orders represented 37 families, 108 genera, and 125 species among the specimens identified so far. Insect research has established ecological relationships between flowering plants of sub-alpine and alpine areas, with their corresponding insect visitors. The descriptions of few insects given below may help to describe their important role in balancing the food web of the Park ecosystem:

Long-horn Beetle
usually large with very long antennae. The adults are sluggish and live on woody plants. The eggs are laid inside the plant by cutting slits with the help of sharp mandibles. In GHNP, four species have been collected between the elevation from 1,500 to 3,500m.

Click-Beetle
occur in many shape and colors. Some are minute or medium-sized, hard, elongate, slightly flat, black, gray, brown, sometimes brilliant metallic. The larvae known as wireworm, are long, cylindrical and slightly flattened. The larvae of many species live in dead wood or under bark of the tree. Five kinds of click-beetles have been recorded between 1,500 to 2,500 m elevation.

Stag-Beetle
usually black or brown. Mandibles of males are enormously enlarged and antler like, hence the name Stag-beetle. The larvae breed in wet, decaying wood. Three kinds of stag beetles recorded between the elevation from 1,500 to 2,500m.

Dung-Beetle
mostly feed on dung of various large herbivore which rolled into convenient-sized ball, then buried in underground chambers and fed at leisure. Maximum representation of species was recorded in this family. Eleven types of dung beetles were seen up to 2,500m elevation in GHNP.

Ladybird-Beetle
minute or small, circular or oval, hemispherical with black, yellow, brown, red, and often spotted. This is a large family with 3,000 species recorded all over the world, it is widely distributed and occurring nearly all year round. During GHNP study, six types of Ladybird-beetles were identified. One species was collected during May over the snow surface at 4,000m altitude.

Blister-Beetle
medium-sized, and soft-bodied; mostly black, brown or some times bright metallic-blue or green. The adults feed on flowers. Found between 1,500 to 2,500m elevations, mainly on the flowers of Impatiens.

Cicada
loudest singers of the forest; they lay eggs into crevices of bark and incubate for about six weeks. Only one Cicada sp. was recorded from 2,000m elevation in GHNP.

Bees and Wasps
pollinators collecting honey from forest trees. Source of income for local communities living close to the GHNP. Three kinds of indigenous bees, two kinds of wasps identified between the elevation of 1,500 to 3,500m. The flowering plants visited by bees and wasps are aconites, Potentillas, Larkspurs, Anemones, Himalayan Blue Poppy, Asters, Salvia, and many others.

Butterflies
In GHNP 44 kinds of butterflies have been recorded. Common blue Apollo resident of alpine areas at about 4,000m elevation in the Tirthan and Sainj valleys of GHNP. Some of the translucent white endangered butterfly of the same genera were also observed above Saketi at 14,000 feet elevation in the Tirthan valley. Yellow swallowtail, a rare butterfly in this area was recorded at about 4,000m in Tirath area of the Tirthan valley.

Cabbage butterfly was common in lower altitude up to 2000m. Dark clouded yellow butterfly, with orange-red and black border found throughout the alpine pasture just after melting of snow, and feed various species of low growing flowers of genus Primula. The Common brimstone, a sulfur colored or greenish yellow butterfly found between the elevation of 1,500 to 2,500 m on the edges of forest openings.

Moths
Indian Moon Moth: beautiful white with pale or bluish green color. Hind wings have long yellow color tail. Sexes are similar but males have more strong feathered antennae and heavy furry body than female. Eyespots and pink crescent shaped marking on hind wing tail are the main characteristics.

Ailanthus Silk Moth
ground color moth, with variations from brown to olive green or orange brown. A brown pale band traverses both the wings. A narrow crescent shaped patch is there in the center of both wings. Antennae of male are strongly feathered.

Great Peacock Moth
red, black, and brown ringed eyespots on all wings. The wings are brown with light and dark bands, and the edge of the fore wings are suffused with silvery white.

Moss Green Lappet
triangular forewings with large, pale brown patches towards the base. Female much larger than male. Recorded between 1,500 to 2,000 m.

Infant Moth
small with hairy appearance, caused by its long, coarse wing fringes. The fore wings are blackish brown, sprinkled with white scales, while the hind wings are orange colored. Found between 1,500 and 2,000m elevations.

Swallow tailed Moth
pale yellow, often mistaken for a butterfly. A small tail-like extension on the hind wing with reddish brown spot at base of hind wing tail are quite distinct. Abundantly recorded between 1,500 to 2,000m.

Hawk Moth
very distinctive streamlined wing shapes and robust bodies. Extremely powerful fliers, some even reaching speed of up to 50 km per hour.


Beetles
Tiger Beetle
found in open sandy river banks, chiefly in tropical and sub-tropical forests. Recorded between 1,500 to 2,000m.

Ground Beetle
black, brown, yellowish, reddish or metallic-blue color, largely ground living forms, found under stones, bark, in moss, rotten wood.

Dragonflies
indicators of water bodies because the eggs are dropped into water or on attached to submerged objects in long gelatinous string. Recorded up to 2,500m.

Worms (Annelids)
A total 14 species of Annelida (11 earthworms and 3 leeches) have been recorded. Earthworms are known to be sensitive to change in native vegetation and land use practices and are very reliable bio-indicators for long term monitoring of disturbance and fragmentation of native ecosystems. The local communities have started vermicomposting as a major alternative income generation activity. This may enhance their crop production and reduce their dependencies upon the Park resources.

Mollusks (Mollusca)
As many as 14 species of both freshwater and terrestrial Mollusca found in GHNP and adjoining ecozone. Their favorite habitats are under large stones, logs, decaying leaves, on wet rocks, tree trunks. They are characterized by low mobility, small populations, patchy and isolated distributions. They get threatened by habitat alterations. Absence of land mollusks may be a good indicator of large scale disturbance of natural vegetation in the area.
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