Sakten Wildlife Sanctury

Camp Site 

SAKTENG WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Located in the easternmost part of the Kingdom of Bhutan, Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary spans an area of 650 sq. km and is Bhutan’s newest protected area (launched in 2003). The sanctuary is a lost world of biodiversity waiting to be discovered. It presents a wide diversity of Himalayan terrestrial ecosystems, namely alpine meadow, temperate forest, and warm broadleaf forest. The Sanctuary is home to people of isolated nomadic tribes. It is characterized by thick carpets of rhododendrons, and in its habitat roam snow leopards, red pandas, Himalayan black bear, barking deer, Himalayan red fox, the hoary-bellied Himalayan squirrel and even the mythical Yeti (or the “Abominable Snowman”). Sakteng is virtually untouched by development. Bird species include the Assamese macaw, blood pheasant, grey backed shrike, grey headed woodpecker, common hoopoe, rufous vented tit and dark breasted rose finch. Plant life includes Bhutan’s national flower, the blue poppy, rhododendrons, primulas and gentiana, all of which transform the park into a garden of colors during spring time.

Thrumshingla National Park

Thrumshingla National Park

The newest national park of Bhutan, ThrumshingLa National Park gained this status in July 1998. Sprawling across 768 sq km, it is situated in central Bhutan. Like all protected areas of Bhutan, it presents diverse climatic conditions, habitats and altitudes that range from less than 1000 m to more than 4000 m. This unique protected area presents vast biodiversity that includes alpine forests, subtropical broadleaf forests and even rare plants. You may spot snow leopards, red pandas and tigers prowling around in this National Park. It was in this Park that an image of a tiger was captured at 3000 m by a WWF-supported survey team in 2000. This photograph was the first evidence proving that tigers do exist at such high altitudes too.

Birdwatchers and ornithologists will find a lot of bird species to catch their attention and interest. There are about 341 species of birds here including the endangered rufous-necked hornbill, beautiful nuthatch, ward's trogon, white-naped yuhina and brown wood owl. Birdlife International has recognized Thrumshingla National Park as an important Bird Area in the Sino-Himalayan mountain forests. WWF supports the upkeep of the park to ensure that it has an effective management plan and dedicated Park staff that can keep the pristine ecosystem here intact for generations to come. The park has over 622 species thriving here quite well. Out of it, 21 species are endemic to this National park and region.

Over 68 species of mammals have been recorded in this wildlife sanctuary including Bengal tiger, leopard, leopard cat, rare clouded leopard, Himalayan black bear, red panda, musk deer, capped langur and Malayan giant squirrel. Tourists and trekkers are attracted to Thrumshingla National Park for trekking, chiefly because of its picture perfect scenery and it being one of the few natural habitats of the world. Communities living within the confines of this Park earn their livelihood from the tourism here. It is estimated that there are about 2000 people living within the park while 11000 people are estimated to live in its buffer zone. Overgrazing and human interference have evolved as a serious threat to the forests of the Park in the present scenario.

Manas National Park

ROYAL MANAS NATIONAL PARK

Bhutan’s Crown Jewel, the Manas National Park represents the largest example of tropical and sub-tropical ecosystems in Bhutan. This park has only recently been opened to the public and offers  thousands of animal and plant species, many of which are globally endangered, it is not only the most diverse protected area in the Kingdom but also noted as one of the world’s biologically outstanding parks. Lying in south central Bhutan, Manas is connected at the southern border with India’s Manas Tiger Reserve, a World Heritage Site. To the north it borders the Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park. Royal Manas was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1966 making it Bhutan’s oldest protected area. The area was upgraded to a National Park in 1993. There are wide climate variations in Royal Manas. The May-September monsoons bring up to 5,000mm of rain. Rainfall is negligible in winter and the climate is extremely pleasant from November till March. Manas is also extremely rich in wildlife species, including the highly endangered Royal Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, greater one-horned rhinoceros, clouded leopard, Himalayan black bear, gangetic dolphin and pangolin. Found virtually nowhere else in the world is the especially rare golden langur, a primate of extraordinary grace and beauty with its long, silky blond fur.

More than 365 species of birds have been officially recorded in Royal Manas National Park with an additional 200 believed to be in residence. Species found here include the globally threatened rufous-necked hornbill, Pallas fishing eagle, great white-bellied heron, spotted wren-babbler, blue-headed rock thrush and emerald cuckoo. Many of the park’s more than 900 types of plants have commercial, medicinal, traditional and religious significance.

Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary

BUMDELING WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary is located in north-western part of Bhutan covering an area of 1,545 sq. km with 420 sq. km in Trashiyangtse, Lhuntshe, and Mongar District. It shares international borders with the Tibetan region of China and Indian border. The sanctuary is home to around 100 species of mammals, including globally endangered species such as snow leopard, Royal Bengal tiger and red panda. And also it is main habitant for Black Neck Crane in winter. In winter more than 150 black necked cranes spend their lives in winter in Bumdeling. The crane arrives in mid-November to early and first week of March back to Tibet. And the place is scenic beauty and diversity many significant religious and cultural places can be found inside the sanctuary, such as Rigsum Gompa, the mystic Singye Dzong and Pemaling– maybe the most scenic in the  country.