Flat-Nose

The leopard is called Nepte, or Flat-Nose, in the district of Sindhu-Palchok. This is how he got the name.

In the beginning the leopard was unable to climb trees. One day he persuaded a cat to show him how to climb. But once the leopard got on the limb of a tall tree, the cat quickly ran away.

The leopard was unable to get down the tree. As he made clumsy efforts to reach the ground, he fell down on his face, flattening his nose for ever. Thereupon, the leopard swore eternal vengeance against the cat, and, to this day, he is called Flat-Nose.