Rajendra Narsingh Suwal - Naturalist

Rajendra N. Suwal loves to study birds, wildlife, cranes and promote eco-tourism. He holds Master’s Degree in Animal Ecology awarded from Tribhuvan University. Rajendra is a recepient of Ashoka Fellow in 2002 for his work involved in crane conservation and wise use of wetlands. As a conservationist, he has worked with the International Crane Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, the IUCN and the UNDP. He’s also collaborated with the BBC on a number of nature documentaries, including the famed Planet Earth series which came to Nepal to film migrating cranes over the Kali Gandaki valley, Jimmy and the Wild Honey Hunters of Nepal, Last Man standing - Nepal, for Earthflight with John Downers and NHK Japan for Demoiselle Crane Migration.

Rajendra was one of the major contributors to the Biodiversity Profiles of Nepal. He is the founding member of Bird Conservation Nepal and Lumbini Crane Conservation Center. Rajendra is the proponent of three wetlands (Bees Hazar, Jagdishpur and Ghodaghodi) of Nepal to register as Ramsar Sites and include Lumbini farmlands as the Important Birds Areas (IBA). He has carried out several ornithological and biodiversity research expeditions in Nepal (Chitwan, Terai Arc Landscape, Annapurna Conservation Area) including satellite tracking of Demoiselle Crane and Bar-headed Geese. He has published several of his research works and gave many lectures on biodiversity conservation.

Rajendra is greatly involved in the conservation of Sarus Cranes from late 1980's, the tallest flying bird of the world in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha. Rajendra is also a Research Associate of International Crane Foundation.

Rajendra was the official Ornithological guide of Prince Akisino of Japan during his tour of the NTNC/ Central Zoo in 1996 and President Jimmy Carter during his bird watching tour of Shivapuri National Park during 2007 and 2013.  

Adventure runs through Rajendra Suwal’s veins. Suwal, the CEO of Nepal Nature dot com Travels has already had a lifetime of exploration, adventure and discovery in Nepal’s mighty wilderness and he doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon. A conservationist and biodiversity expert by profession, Suwal is a fountain of knowledge about the wild animals that call Nepal home. As a prominent member of the tourism industry, Suwal is the go-to source for bird watching, trekking and mountaineer expeditions.

Suwal is now an expert on trekking and wildlife expeditions in Nepal, but he recalls a time in 1977 when he and six school friends, all around 14 years old, set off into the Helambu region for a week with little more than a map, cooking utensils and sleeping bags. The cost of the trek was a paltry 100 rupees per person for the entire trip. Since those early days of unbridled adventure, Suwal has gone on to work with reputed mountaineers, cinematographers, environmentalists and walked with the celebrities. Since Suwal’s career revolves around Nepal’s great outdoors, he’s witnessed a number of changes in the tourism industry, as well as changing attitudes of both tourists, bureaucrats and industry workers. He survived a fatal attack from a Rhino in Chitwan National Park..

Rajendra is also a resource person and speaker for several Eco-tourism conferences in Nepal as well as in Malaysia, and Philippines. He also has extensive knowledge in managing hospitality industry. He is an avid bird watcher and has travelled widely in Nepal jungles and Himalayas and different parts of Asia, Europe, and USA.