Flora & Fauna in Bhutan !!

Many people come to Bhutan to commune with nature, watch birds or look for exotic animals. The well-cared for environment of Bhutan supports more than 5,000 plant species, including some 300 medicinal plants and 600 types of orchids. Accordingly, the country allows only sustainable development and tourism. For this reason, the land is still nearly seventy five percent forested (it takes a permit to cut down any tree), rivers and lakes are all pure and endangered species are safe. An abundance of bird life fills the forests and fields. Six hundred and seventy five different species have been identified (more than anywhere else on earth) and that list is growing as more and more birders visit Bhutan. While the most publicized birds are black-necked cranes that winter in Bhutan, other recorded sightings include the white-bellied heron, Blyth’s tragopan, and many hoopoes, cuckoos, warblers, horn-bills and sun-birds.

In the Bhutanese animal kingdom there are 165 species. The strange looking Takin (somewhat like an American moose) is the national animal. Other creatures you may find are monkeys, elephants, tigers, rhinos, Himalayan brown bears, red pandas, wild pigs, blue sheep, mountain goats, antelope, golden langurs, wild buffalo, and Himalayan martins. If you are lucky, you may even see a snow leopard!