Bhutan is a small Buddhist country sandwiched between two giants China in the north and India in the south on the southern slopes of the Eastern Himalayas. The land with rugged mountains with variations in altitude. The distance of 150 miles between the southern and northern borders. Bhutan’s altitude rises from 150 meters to more than 7,500 meters. These great geographical conditions of Bhutan and diverse climate conditions lead to an outstanding range of biodiversity and ecosystems. There are 90 and more species of animals in Bhutan.
Animals of Bhutan consist of the Royal Bengal Tiger, one-horned rhino, golden langur, clouded leopard, hispid hare, and sloth bear who live in hardwood forests in the southern belt of Bhutan. In the temperate zone of Bhutan lives grey langur, tiger, common leopard, goral, and serow are found in mixed conifer, broadleaf, and pine forests of Bhutan. Fruit-bearing trees and bamboo provide to live in Himalayan black bears, red pandas, squirrels, sambar, wild pig, and barking deer. The northern region with Alpine is home to the snow leopard, blue sheep, marmot, antelope, and Himalayan musk deer.
Flora and birds abound with more than 770 species of bird and 5,400 species of plants known to occur throughout the kingdom.
In fact, locals believe that Yeti, a mythical creature whose existence has not been confirmed yet, also resides in the country, amidst the snowy mountains. Temperate zone houses Leopards, Grey Langurs, Himalayan Black Bears, Wild Pigs, Sambars, Barking Deers, Gorals, etc. Elephants, Clouded Leopards, One-horned Rhinoceros, Golden Langurs, Swamp Deers, etc reign in the tropical forests in the Southern region.
Crocodiles, gharials, and different varieties of lizards can be found in Bhutan. River turtles and pythons are also found here. Bhutan is a treasure trove of butterflies. Swallowtails and other rare species of butterflies are found in Bhutan.
Golden Langur is an animal species that is unique to Bhutan. It can be seen along the shore of the Manas River in the Southernmost part of the country.
Bhutan is known for its rich biodiversity and diverse range of animals. The country’s geographical variations, ranging from the subtropical plains in the south to the high Himalayan mountains in the north, support a wide array of animal species.
The Bengal tiger is one of the most iconic and endangered species in Bhutan. They inhabit the subtropical forests of the southern foothills. Bhutan is one of the remaining 13 tiger countries. With 72% of the country under forest, the coverage provides a good corridor for Bengal Tigers. Over 50% under protected areas of National Parks.
Presently the population has reached 131 Bengal tigers in Bhutan with an increase of 27% compared to the 2014-15 figure(103). The figure is recorded by the National Tiger Survey report for 2021-22 carried out by the Department of Forests and Park Services under the Ministry of Energy and Natural resources.
Bhutan has an estimated as of now 115-150 Bengal tigers spread across Bhutan. You can see from the sub-tropical plains of Souther Bhutan to temperate forests, to high-altitude alpine meadows till 4200 meters.
Bhutan Studies from the Ministry of Agriculture & Forest and WFF Bhutan studies and research found out Jigme Dorji National Park to Bumdeling Wild Life Sanctuary via Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park and Thrumshingla National Park are the National Parks where Bengal Tigers are available.
Found in the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas, the elusive snow leopard is a rare and endangered species in Bhutan. Their thick white-gray coat is spotted with large black rosettes found on steep and rocky high mountains of Bhutan. Due to their incredible natural camouflage being invisible in their surroundings and referred to as the “ghost of the mountains.”
Uncia is derived from the old French word which was used for the European lynx. The snow leopard is still occasionally called ounce.
Snow leopards of Bhutan live in high-altitude mountainous terrain at elevations of 3,000-4,500m. They prefer to live around steep cliffs, broken landscapes such as cliffs, rocky outcrops, and ravines.
The Red panda is an adorable and endangered species found in the temperate forests of Bhutan. The red panda is slightly larger than a domestic cat with thick fur. The belly and limbs are black in color. The white markings on the side of the head and above its small eyes. Red pandas are very skillful and acrobatic animals. They stay in trees. Almost 50% of the red panda’s habitat is in the Eastern Himalayas of Nepal, Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh(India ), Burma, and the Tibetan autonomous region of China. Ther are herbivores in nature. The name panda is derived from the word ‘Ponya,’ which means bamboo or plant-eating animal.
The name Ailurus is derived from the Greek word Ailouros, which means cat. “Fulgens” means fire-colored or shining.
The red Panda habitat starts from Myanmar (Burma) to the west Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces of China. They are also found in suitable habitats in Nepal, Bhutan India, and Tibet. Ailurus fulgens Fulgens live predominantly in Nepal and can also be found in India and Bhutan.
The golden langur is an endangered species found in certain parts of Bhutan.
The Golden Langur is between the Manas River in the east and the Sankosh River in the west. The foothills of the Black Mountains to the north, and the Brahmaputra in the south.
Inhabiting the southern foothills of southern Bhutan plains. The Asiatic elephant can be found in some of the lower elevations of Bhutan from an elevation of 200m to 1800m.
The gaur or Indian Bison is the largest species of wild cattle. It is also found in Bhutan’s grasslands and forests. The gaur is a bovine native to South Asia and Southeast Asia. The global population was estimated at a maximum of 21,000 mature individuals in 2016. The majority of those exist in India.
Takin is found in Bhutan, North Eastern India, the Western part of China, and Tibet. The main threats to the Bhutan Takin are hunting and habitat loss. Takin is the national animal of Bhutan and is a unique-looking ungulate found in the high mountains.
In Bhutan, takins are found in bamboo forests at altitudes of 1,000 to 4,500 meters (3,300 to 15,000 ft), where they eat grass, buds, and leaves. Takins are diurnal, active during the day, resting in the heat on particularly sunny days. Takin gather in small herds in winter and herds of up to a hundred individuals in the summer; in winter, they move to lower elevations and split into smaller herds of 10–50 individuals, mostly in the Gasa District. As is often seen in bison, old males are often solitary.
Takin in Bhutan got significant and important. The animal is the national of Bhutan. Due to its association with Bhutanese religious history and mythology. A Tibetan saint, Drukpa Kunley well-known as “Divide Madam” created this unique animal. Takin Zoo is in Thimphu. You can check out the Mothithang area of Thimphu. It is a 5-6 Km drive from the main downtown.
Blue Sheep also known as Bharal, these sheep inhabit the mountainous regions of Bhutan and are prey to snow leopards.
Bhutan is an important spot to check out for black-necked cranes, which migrate from the Tibetan Plateau to Phubjikha Valley and some parts of Bhutan. Black-necked cranes in Bhutan are winter visitors from late October to mid-February to the Phobjikha Valley. They arrive from the Tibetan Plateau and Siberia. They visit the Phobjikha Valley in large numbers, which is a declared protected area for the cranes.
On arrival in Phobhjikha Valley, they are seen to circle Gangey Monastery three times. They repeat again as they begin their return to the Tibet Autonomous Region in early spring.
The colorful national bird of Bhutan can be found in the forests and high-altitude regions of Bhutan.
Another elusive and beautiful cat species is found in Bhutan’s forests.
These animals of Bhutan mentioned above are just a few examples. Bhutan is also home to species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. The Bhutanese government has taken significant steps and roles to protect the animals of Bhutan. Government conserves its wildlife and natural habitats, making it a haven for nature enthusiasts and wildlife researchers and sightseeing. Bhutan has 72% forest coverage which helps animals.
Bhutan is a haven for bird species. Almost 770 species of birds are found in Bhutan and many are endangered. 415 of these species are the country’s own residents, which migrate from one part of the country to the other, depending upon the climatic conditions.
A high percentage of these birds is dependent on the country’s thick forest cover. Black-necked cranes, white-bellied herons, hornbills, and pheasants are very few of the many species which can be found here. During winter, many beautiful birds migrate here from different parts of the world. There are almost 50 such species of birds and including Thrushes, Waders, Ducks, etc. White-bellied Heron, Pallas Fish eagle, and Blyth’s Kingfisher are a few of the 16 endangered bird species which are found.
Tropical and Subtropical zones of Bhutan have bird populations. Higher altitudes do not witness many birds flying around. Only 94 bird species are found in the region lying above 4000 meters, against a total of 700 species that are found below 2000 meters.
Bhutan undergoes non-stop to preserve this rich diversity. Every year 2nd June has celebrated as “Social Forestry Day” coinciding with the 4th King of official crowning. In order to educate people about the importance of forests and animals. On the day each citizen plants a sapling. This practice has been introduced to keep in check the forest cover of the nation.
There are four national parks and wildlife sanctuaries and 1 strict nature reserve in Bhutan, which protect the animals and plants. Poaching or hunting is strictly not allowed in Bhutan with a strong set of laws.
Given the wide variety of flora and fauna in Bhutan, it is no wonder why the nation ranks among the happiest countries in the world. It gives equal weightage and importance to its plants and animals, as it gives to its citizens. The efforts made by the government and the locals to protect this valuable natural resource are commendable and are a lesson for every other country in the world.
Eco-Tourism with animals of Bhutan is gearing up Bhutan that follows suit promoting ecotourism within the framework of Gross National Happiness (GNH), a home-grown development philosophy derived from a Buddhist ethic and Bhutanese values.
Bhutan’s Tourism sector is the second largest revenue earner and ultimately earns the highest foreign exchange revenue for the country. For maximizing profit from Bhutan for Tourism. Many tourism stakeholders have increased their profitability through a series of applying strategies for negative impacts on Bhutan. So now Bhutan is negative carbon negative in the world. Eco-Tourism in Bhutan played a vital role between the industry, government, tourists, and local people.
Many regions in Bhutan play a vital role in protecting Bhutanese society as wholesome. Bhutan’s flora and fauna are protected by implementing strict rules imposed on visitors coming from outside the country. When you pass the corridor of the National Parks of Bhutan approval from the concerned agency is mandatory. A Bhutan visa is approved by immigration prior to your arrival.
The Bhutan Birding tour can provide you with a good advantage of Bhutan birds towards the central part of Bhutan. Starting from Wangdue to Trongsa and Phubjikha Valley. A black-necked crane can be found in Phubjikha Valley, which is around a 5-hour car drive from Thimphu. The birds migrate from the Tibetan plateau and Siberia during November and again migrate back to Tibet. The black-necked crance festival is held at Gangtey Monastery every 11th November.
Traveling to Bhutan with us will create beautiful memories of traveling to Bhutan and knowing more about the flora and fauna of Bhutan.