In the small mountainous kingdom of Bhutan, the generally low population density means that wildlife is less likely to suffer loss of habitat than in neighbouring India or Nepal. There are tourists to contend with but numbers are kept in check by government charges and guides are compulsory.
Religion also plays a significant role in preserving this last Shangri La. Most Bhutanese are devout Buddhist. Respect for nature and all living things is part of the culture and hunting and fishing almost non-existent. Among Bhutan’s rare species, the tiger holds a special place since according to tradition, Guru Rinpoche travelled on the back of a tigress to bring Buddhism to the country.
Bengal Tigers, Bhutan Set to Save the Tigers
Herders in Bhutan have long reported tiger sightings but only recently did wildlife experts gather film footage of the big cats. Fully protected since 1995, in a kingdom where over 60% of the land is conservation forest, Bengal tigers, also found in India and Bangladesh, can enjoy the ideal habitat. Over several months, a BBC expedition tracked them in the foothills but also surprisingly at high altitude where vast uninhabited areas are said to offer the best chance of survival.
Numbers worldwide are estimated around 3000, barely 5% of the population in 1900, living in isolated pockets. Tiger expert Alan Rabinowitz has long envisioned creating a tiger corridor along the Himalaya but ‘Bhutan was the missing link.’ Now the link has been confirmed and it is hoped such a corridor will allow Bengal tigers to roam freely and breed in genetically sound manner. Bhutan, it seems, may hold the key to save the tigers.
Wildlife Conservation in Bhutan, Endangered Species and Birds
Bengal tigers are only one of the endangered or vulnerable species found in the jungles and forests of Bhutan. Others include red pandas, clouded leopards, Himalayan black bear and golden and capped langurs. Elephants, gaur, and goat-antelopes known as takin are also present. Blue sheep, or bharal, and snow leopards live at high altitude.
Hundreds of bird species have been recorded, resident or migrant, ranging from snow pigeons and rose finches to blood pheasants, rufous-necked hornbills, hoopoes, barbets or warblers. Among the migrating birds are black-necked cranes from Tibet who winter in eastern and central Bhutan. They are considered auspicious and their return is celebrated with a special festival. Also significant is the raven which appears on the royal crown.
Bhutan, Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks
Wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, set up under royal patronage, cover 35% of the country. Sanctuaries include Bumdeling, known for butterflies and black-necked cranes, and the newest protected area, Sakteng, which claims a particularly rich biodiversity almost untouched by development.
Royal Manas, the oldest sanctuary, was upgraded to national park in 1993, claiming Bhutan’s largest tropical and sub-tropical ecosystems. The biggest protected area is the Jigme Dorji National Park, ranging from 1000 to over 7000 metres in altitude and covering 4349km². It may be the only place on earth where snow leopards and tigers partly share their habitat.
The Trumshing La National Park yielded in 2000 the first image of a tiger above 3000 metres. Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the second largest park, stretches from forests to high peaks and includes the Phobjikha Valley which attracts wintering cranes. The park is also said to act as a link between Bengal tigers from south and north Bhutan.
Solange Hando - I am a travel writer, editor and photographer, contributing to a range of publications in the UK and worldwide.
Join the Conversation