PROTECTED AREAS OF BHUTAN ( NATIONAL PARKS AND WILD LIFE SANCTUARIES)

PROTECTED AREAS OF BHUTAN

The protected areas of Bhutan are its national parks, nature preserves, and wildlife sanctuaries. 

1.      Wangchuck Centennial Park

It was launched on 12 December 2008 located in central-northern Bhutan covering Bumthang, Gasa, Lhuentse, Trongsa and Wangdue Phodrang Dzongkhags. It is the country’s largest park covering 4,914 square kilometers.

It extends over an altitude of 2,500 to 5,100 meters above sea level. The park is home to 244 species of vascular plants, 23 species of large mammals and 134 species of birds. The wildlife species such as the Royal Bengal Tiger, Snow leopard, Wolf, Takin and Himalayan Black bear etc. are found in this park.

2.      Jigme Dorji National Park

Jigme Dorji National Park is Bhutan’s second largest protected area (4,316 square kilometers) with an altitude range of 1,400 to above 7,000 meters. It covers the districts such as Gasa, Paro, Punakha, Thimphu and Wangdue Phodrang. The endangered species such as Royal Bengal Tiger, Snow leopard, Takin, Blue sheep, Musk deer, Himalayan Black bear, Red panda etc. are found in this park. The park is also famous for its flora, and more than 300 species of medicinal plants.

3.      Royal Manas National Park

It is the country’s oldest park covering 1,057 square kilometers. It is located between Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park in the north, and Manas National Park in India to the south. It ranges from 1500 to 2,600 meters above sea level. The park is home to the Royal Bengal Tiger, Elephant, Golden langur, Pygmy hog, Ganges River Dolphin, one-horned rhinoceros and Asiatic wild buffalo etc.

4.      Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park

JSW National Park covers an area of 1,730 square kilometers in central Bhutan. It covers most of Trongsa District, parts of Sarpang, Wangdue Phodrang and Zhemgang Districts. The park constitutes the largest, richest and most intact temperate forest reserve in the entire Himalaya. More than 449 species of birds, including the endangered Black-necked crane inhabit in this park. JSW National Park was formerly known as Black Mountains National Park.

5.      Thrumshingla National Park

Thrumshingla covers an area of 905.05 square kilometers, over an altitude range of 700 to 4,400 meters within the political boundaries of four Dzongkhags – Bumthang, Mongar, Lhuentse and zhemgang.  Six species of globally threatened birds such as Rufousnecked hornbill, Rufous-throated wren-babbler, Satyrtragopan, Beautiful nuthatch, Ward’s trogon and Chestnut-breasted partridge are found in this park.

6.      Bumdelling Wildlife Sanctuary

Bumdelling Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the north-eastern Bhutan covering an area of 1,520.61 square kilometers between 1,500 to 6,000 meters of Trashiyangtse, Lhuentse and Mongar Dzongkhag. The park contains a rich diversity of flora and fauna as well as some of the most scenic alpine lakes. Bumdelling Valley within the sanctuary is one of the spots for the endangered Black-necked crane.

7.      Sakten Wildlife Sanctuary

Sakten Wildlife Sanctuary is possibly the world’s only protected area known to the highly reclusive Yeti. It covers an area of 740.60 square kilometers between 1,800 to 4,400 meters in Trashigang District bordering the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.  Sakten is designed to protect the country’s eastern-most temperate ecosystems.

8.      Khaling Wildlife Sanctuary

Khaling Wildlife Sanctuary is Bhutan’s smallest protected area covering an area of 334.73 square kilometers between 400 to 2,200 meters in Samdrup Jongkhar District along the southern border with Assam. The park is important habitat for Elephant, Gaur and other tropical wildlife species.

9.      Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary

Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary is Bhutan’s second smallest park covering 268.93 square kilometers and ranges from 200 to 1,600 meters in western Sarpang District and southeastern Dagana District along the border with west Bengal. Like Royal Manas, Phibsoo is home to Elephant, Royal Bengal Tiger, Gaur, Ganges River dolphin.

10.   Torsa Strict Nature Reserve

Torsa Strict Nature Reserve, located in Western Haa, covers an area of 609.51 square kilometers. Its altitude ranges from 1,400 to 4,800 meters above the sea level and includes the small lakes of Sinchulungpa. It is the only nature reserve in the country that has absolutely no human inhabitants.

In appreciation of the commitment of His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck to environmental protection and conservation, Toorsa SNR is now renamed as “Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve”.

In addition, the Royal Government maintains the following protected areas:

·        Motithang Takin Preserve 

A mini-zoo located in the Motithang district of Thimphu, Bhutan is a wildlife reserve area for takin, the national animal of Bhutan. The reason for declaring takin as a National Animal of Bhutan on 25 November 2005 is attributed to a legend of the animal’s creation in Bhutan in the 15th century by Lama Drukpa Kunley.

An area of 3.4 hectares (8.4 acres) was demarcated and fenced for the preserve. Improvements were implemented in 2004, a collaborative effort of the Royal Government of Bhutan and World Wide Fund, WWF. The preserve also holds a few sambar and barking deer. The Motithang Takin Reserve has been an integral part of Thimphu city and is an ongoing visitor attraction.

·       Phobjika Valley (protected or maintained by private organizations)

The valley is rich in faunal biodiversity and has, apart from the globally threatened black-necked cranes, 13 other globally threatened species. An area of about 163 square kilometers (63 sq mi) within the valley has been declared a protected area, which is managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Nature (RSPN), for the protection of nature.