Wildlifeof Bhutan
Places
Where to see Bhutan's wildlife, from the western passes to Royal Manas and the high Himalaya.
Why the west
Paro, Thimphu and Punakha are where almost every visit to Bhutan begins, and the high passes between them are some of the easiest places in the Himalaya to see pheasants at dawn. Chele La and Dochu La hold blood pheasants and Himalayan monals, and the warm Punakha valley is one of the last strongholds of the white-bellied heron. Visitors travel with a licensed Bhutanese guide.
Why the centre
The glacial valleys of central Bhutan, above all Phobjikha, are the winter home of the black-necked crane, which arrives from the Tibetan plateau in late October and leaves by March. The forests around Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park hold red pandas, golden langurs and tigers, and the road east over Pele La and Yotong La crosses rich temperate forest.
Why the east
The Lateral Road east over Thrumshing La climbs through some of the finest temperate and subtropical forest in the Himalaya, and is one of Asia's great birding routes: satyr tragopans, Ward's trogons, beautiful nuthatches and laughingthrushes, with red pandas in the bamboo. Few tourists come this far, and the villages of Sakteng and Merak add a unique high-altitude landscape.
Why the south
Along the Indian border the Himalaya drop into hot subtropical forest and grassland. Royal Manas National Park and the southern sanctuaries hold tigers, elephants, gaur, golden langurs and four species of hornbill, and connect with Manas in India. Summer monsoon rain makes many roads difficult from June to September.
Why the high north
The northern parks cover glaciers, alpine meadows and yak-herding country up to the Tibetan border. This is the land of snow leopards, blue sheep, takins in summer and Tibetan snowcocks, reached only on multi-day treks such as the Jomolhari and Snowman routes. Treks need a permit and a licensed operator, and passes close in winter.