The Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries of Bhutan are home to many rare plants and animals. These parks are one of the top tourist attractions in Bhutan because of the incredible animals, bird, and plants that are found here. The Bhutanese people and government are committed to retaining the natural beauty and ecology of Bhutan. The government maintains a Bhutan Biological Conservation Complex, which is a system of parks and wildlife sanctuaries. These parks cover 35% of the country and are home to species of endangered animals, birds, and plants.

Parks

Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park

This centrally located National Park has a variety of altitudes and climates, making it a suitable home for a wide variety of unique plant and animal life. Musk deer, Himalayan black bears and the golden langur all make their home within this secluded forest. The clouded leopard, the red panda and the Bengal tiger can also be found here. In addition to these animals there are also 391 different species of birds found within the park, 7 of which are endangered in other parts of the world. This park is over 1,300 square kilometers and is the second largest protected area in Bhutan.

TrumshingLa National Park

This breathtaking National Park is the newest in Bhutan, having been officially created in 1998. The altitudes in this park range from less than 1000 meters above sea level to over 4000 meters. This wide range in altitude, as well as temperatures that vary from -21 degrees Celcius to 28 degrees Celsius means that this park is home to a broad range of trees, animals and birds. In 2000 the World Wildlife Federation captured the image of a tiger at 3,000 meters above sea level, which is the first evidence that these animals can live in such high altitudes. With such newsworthy animal life, this park is a must-see for any tourist visiting Bhutan.

Royal Manas National Park

This National Park is the most diverse in Bhutan. This park is located at the southern end of the country, and borders India's Manas Tiger Reserve. This tropical and sub-tropical park was a Wildlife Sanctuary from 1966 to 1993, when it was upgraded to a National Park. The rainy season here lasts from March through October and can bring up to 5,000mm of rain. This extremely moist area is home to the endangered Royal Bengal tiger, the Asian elephant, the greater one-horned rhinoceros, the clouded leopard, the Himalayan Black bear, the golden langur, the gangetic dolphin and pangolin. Over 900 species of plants have been identified, many with medicinal and religious value. This tropical region is another nature lovers paradise.

Jigme Dorji National Park

Jigme Dorji National Park is the largest in Bhutan and is located on the North-West border. This park is unique in that it contains the sacred peaks of Jomolhari, Jichu Drakey and Tsherimgang. Several of Bhutan's rivers have head waters that are formed by the glaciers in these mountains. There are numerous exotic plants that live in this part of the country, including the blue poppy -which is the national flower- edelweiss, and orchids.

Wildlife Sanctuaries

Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary

This sanctuary is located within the districts of Trashi Yangtse, Lhuentshe, and Mongar and shares a border with Tibet and India. Over 100 species of mammals are found here as well as 130 species of butterflies. This sanctuary is also home to many religious places such as Dechenphodrang Lhaghang, one of the most beautiful monasteries in Bhutan.

Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary

The Sakteng Sanctuary is pristine and remains untouched by civilization. The newest sanctuary, developed in 2003 is still home to nomadic tribes of people. This Himalayan ecosystem contains alpine meadow, temperate forest and warm broad-leaf forest, so it is home to numerous plant and animal species. It is even said to be home to the mythical Abominable Snowman or Yeti, in addition to the black bear, barking dear, hoary-bellied squirrel, and the snow leopard.

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