- Joined
- Dec 24, 2003
- Messages
- 1,390
Nepal is truly an amazing place... Roughly comprising the same area of the state of Wisconsin, it has a plethora of extremes: climatic, cultural, language, geographical. Not surprisingly, it is very rich with a diverse selection of flora and fauna.
Between 1950 and 1980 Nepal's forests were depleted by 50%, due to the doubling of its population. Fortunately there are 7 National Parks and 3 National Wildlife Preserves (comprising a total of 8% of Nepal's territory), and Nepali law protects almost 40 of its fauna... Unfortunately, many villages are within or close to the confines of these refuge areas. Poaching, cutting down of timber, etc. can obviously take its toll even on the protected animals. Eco-tourism which is growing in importance worldwide, is also well known in Nepal, and gives much hope for the future survival of these beautiful animals.
The following is the list of the endangered species. Surprisingly, the Spotted Deer was not found to be on any of the protected fauma lists I researched, but may currently be on the list, or soon to be included on same. Some of the animals are well known to all of us, and some are real surprises:
Himalayan Monal, Great Peid Hornbill, Lesser Florican, Bengal Florican, Gangetic Dolphin, One Horned Rhinoceros, Brown Bear, Leopard Cat, Black Duck Pygmy Hog, Bengali Tiger Hispid Hare, Assamese Monkey, Swamp Deer, Clouded Leopard, Crimson Horned Pheasant, Impeyan Pheasant, Cheer Pheasant, Sarus Crane Gharial, Crocodile Wild Elephant, Golden Monitor Lizard, Pangolin, Black Stork, Wild Water Buffalo, Four-Horned Antelope, Tibetan Antelope, Musk Deer, Spotted Lingsang, Great Tibetan Sheep, Gaur Bison, Wild Yak, Red Panda, Striped Hyaena, Grey Wolf, Python, Lynx, Snow Leopard.
How does this thread link us to the khukuri? I was thinking about a nice presentation scabbard with inlays, and having some of the more spectacular animals of the list appearing on the scabbard would truly be unique and beautiful... A particularly skilled metal carver (choose the metal that suits you) could very accurately render both the animal's silhouette and distinctive features. I'm talking much more detailed than the typical work seen on the wooden boxes sold to tourists in India.
Details can be deeply and precisely engraved into the flat silhouettes, and oven fired enamels could make these inlays spectacular. A selected saatisal or other Nepali wood scabbard could be host to these precisely and securely fitted inlays. A "do it yourself" TruOil treatment could polish the scabbard once it's delivered...
Take the dream khukuri of your choice, either custom order or standard, slip it into its sheath, and you have a "Kothimoda" in my book. I am sure that a true craftsman in Nepal would love to express his artform to the fullest, even spending the same amount of time that the craftsmen spend (said to be 10 days) for the creation of the heavy silver kothimoda scabbard. This is a possibility that I'd love to see offered by HI... Excuse my enthusiasm; it goes along with the territory (HIKV affliction).
I've seen and purchased artwork in India that is amazing, and I'm sure Nepali artisans can produce the same level of mastery.
Between 1950 and 1980 Nepal's forests were depleted by 50%, due to the doubling of its population. Fortunately there are 7 National Parks and 3 National Wildlife Preserves (comprising a total of 8% of Nepal's territory), and Nepali law protects almost 40 of its fauna... Unfortunately, many villages are within or close to the confines of these refuge areas. Poaching, cutting down of timber, etc. can obviously take its toll even on the protected animals. Eco-tourism which is growing in importance worldwide, is also well known in Nepal, and gives much hope for the future survival of these beautiful animals.
The following is the list of the endangered species. Surprisingly, the Spotted Deer was not found to be on any of the protected fauma lists I researched, but may currently be on the list, or soon to be included on same. Some of the animals are well known to all of us, and some are real surprises:
Himalayan Monal, Great Peid Hornbill, Lesser Florican, Bengal Florican, Gangetic Dolphin, One Horned Rhinoceros, Brown Bear, Leopard Cat, Black Duck Pygmy Hog, Bengali Tiger Hispid Hare, Assamese Monkey, Swamp Deer, Clouded Leopard, Crimson Horned Pheasant, Impeyan Pheasant, Cheer Pheasant, Sarus Crane Gharial, Crocodile Wild Elephant, Golden Monitor Lizard, Pangolin, Black Stork, Wild Water Buffalo, Four-Horned Antelope, Tibetan Antelope, Musk Deer, Spotted Lingsang, Great Tibetan Sheep, Gaur Bison, Wild Yak, Red Panda, Striped Hyaena, Grey Wolf, Python, Lynx, Snow Leopard.
How does this thread link us to the khukuri? I was thinking about a nice presentation scabbard with inlays, and having some of the more spectacular animals of the list appearing on the scabbard would truly be unique and beautiful... A particularly skilled metal carver (choose the metal that suits you) could very accurately render both the animal's silhouette and distinctive features. I'm talking much more detailed than the typical work seen on the wooden boxes sold to tourists in India.
Details can be deeply and precisely engraved into the flat silhouettes, and oven fired enamels could make these inlays spectacular. A selected saatisal or other Nepali wood scabbard could be host to these precisely and securely fitted inlays. A "do it yourself" TruOil treatment could polish the scabbard once it's delivered...Take the dream khukuri of your choice, either custom order or standard, slip it into its sheath, and you have a "Kothimoda" in my book. I am sure that a true craftsman in Nepal would love to express his artform to the fullest, even spending the same amount of time that the craftsmen spend (said to be 10 days) for the creation of the heavy silver kothimoda scabbard. This is a possibility that I'd love to see offered by HI... Excuse my enthusiasm; it goes along with the territory (HIKV affliction).
I've seen and purchased artwork in India that is amazing, and I'm sure Nepali artisans can produce the same level of mastery.
