BUMDELING WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (BWS), is situated in the north-western part of Bhutan, bordering India and China with an area of 1,564 sq km. BWS has a wide altitudinal range and eco-systems varying from broad-leaved forests at1,500m in the south to the northern alpine meadows and extensive scree slopes around 6,500m. BWS is an ecologically sensitive area, home to over 100 animal species including the globally endangered Snow Leopard, Red Panda and Bengal Tiger (recorded at 4,000m), 290 bird species with 4 near threatened and 5 globally threatened species (IUCN Red List) including Pallas’ Fish Eagle and Back-neck Crane with over130 butterfly species including the endemic Ludlow’s Bhutan Swallowtail. A superb area for exploring the unknown.
SAKTENG WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (SWS), is found in the remotest part of eastern Bhutan, covering approximately 700 sq km and joined through a biological corridor to Khaling Wildlife Sanctuary in the south of the country. SWS has a wide altitudinal range from 1,600m to over 4,000m, with eco-systems varying from cool temperate broad-leaved forests to temperate coniferous forests and alpine meadows; providing habitat for over 200 different species of trees, shrubs, herbs and plants including endemic species including the Eastern Blue Pine, Black-rumped Magpie and Blue Poppy (Bhutan’s National flower), 160 species of mammals and approximately 150 species of birds. SWS is home to semi-nomadic herdsmen who roam this starkly beautiful unexplored region.
KHALING WILDLIFE SACTUARY (KWS), covering approximately 270 sq km is the smallest protected are in Bhutan lying between 4oom and 2,200m. KWS lies in the south east of Bhutan adjoining the Khaling Reserve in Assam forming a trans-border reserve. Broadleaf evergreen forests, semi-evergreen rain forests, hill evergreen subtropical forests and grasslands are found within the area proving excellent habitat for rare fauna species such as elephants, guars and the rare pygmy hog. KWS is also the site for bird conservation in Bhutan and the location for rare avian species such as Chestnut-breasted Partridge and Rufous-necked Hornbill. A birder’s paradise!
PHIBSOO WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (PWS), is situated in the South of Bhutan along the border with West Bengal, covering approximately 280 sq km, with altitudinal ranges from 200m to 1,600m and has no resident human residents. It is connected to Jigme Singye Wangchuck and ManasNational Parks through a biological corridor. Between 200 and 1,000m, PWS has dense subtropical natural forests of Sal (Shorea robusta) with warm temperate broad-leaved forests from around 1,000m, the habitat of chital, golden langur, elephants, gaur and Bengal tigers and the rare Ganges River Dolphins can be found in the clear rivers. PWS is the wildlife enthusiast and photographer’s heaven!
TORSA STRICT NATURE RESERVE (TSNR), covers 609.51 sq km in the west of Bhutan, bordering Sikkim and Tibet, has no resident human population and is connected to Jigme Dorji National Park via a biological corridor. TSNR has altitudinal ranges progressing from 1,400m to 4,800m, and therefore has within its boundaries a variety of landscapes and eco systems. TSNR was established to protect the westernmost temperate forests of Bhutan which includes the small lakes of Sinchulungpa and the different types of forestation, the scrub and shrub-land and alpine meadows. It is a good birding area and well known for its research on the bio-diversity of the area.101 words