Bhutan Nature and Wildlife

Choosing to remain isolated from the rest of the world for many centuries has allowed Bhutan to maintain one of the most intact ecosystems in the world. In 1998, it was named one of the top ten bio-diversity hot spots in the world. The Bhutanese population is very conscious of the nature around them and along with the government, works very hard to preserve it.

More than 35% of the area of Bhutan is under some form of protection or conservation management. The Royal Government of Bhutan has pledged to maintain at least 60% forest coverage at any time (they currently sit at 65%). Unlike many other nations, the government often votes against sacrificing natural resources in favour of short-term economic ventures and gains.

There are four designated national parks in Bhutan as well as many wildlife sanctuaries and nature reserves. Jigme Dorji National Park located in the western part of Paro, Thimphu and Punakha offers habitats for several endangered species including the takin, blue sheep, snow leopards, musk deer, the Himalayan black bear and the red panda. The Royal Mauas National Park located in south central Bhutan serves as a reserve game park sheltering rhinos, buffalos, tigers, leopards, elephants and many more. There are plans to open the park to tourists in the future. Black Mountain National Park protects the range of mountains that separates eastern and western Bhutan. It houses a wide range of native flora as well as animals including tigers, Himalayan black bears, leopards and red pandas. Finally, Thrumshing la National Park located between Bumthrang and Mongar works to protect temperate forests. It is also a known bird conservation area.

Despite not having many endemic animals or mammals, there is still a diverse variety of animals that call Bhutan home. The national animal of Bhutan is the Takin. The Takin leaves many scientists baffled as they are unable to relate it to any other animal. Its nickname is the “beestung moose” because of the bump on its nose as well as its size which resembles a North American moose. Hunting of these animals is banned by law and poaching is low as there is no real economic value placed on Takin parts. The higher altitudes of Bhutan see snow leopards, blue sheep, red pandas and tigers while the lower, temperate tropical zones house leopards, grey langurs, sambhar deer, one-horned rhinos and elephants. There are also over 670 bird species found in Bhutan as it is located at the junction of a major avian migration route. Bhutan is considered a “safe haven” for sixteen critically endangered bird species including the rare Black Necked Crane.

Bhutan Travel Information

At Goway we believe that a well-informed traveller is a safer traveller. With this in mind, we have compiled an easy-to-navigate travel information section dedicated to Bhutan. 

Learn about the history and culture of Bhutan, the must-try food and drink, and what to pack in your suitcase. Read about Bhutan's nature and wildlife, weather and geography, along with 'Country Quickfacts' compiled by our travel experts. Our globetrotting tips, as well as our visa and health information, will help ensure you're properly prepared for a safe and enjoyable trip. The only way you could possibly learn more is by embarking on your journey and discovering Bhutan for yourself. Start exploring...book one of our Bhutan tours today!

Extend Tour Trip 

After your Bhutan vacation, consider taking the time to visit other destinations. Goway offers exciting China vacation packages, India tours and Thailand vacation packages plus a comprehensive selection of vacation packages in many other Asian countries.

Book your Bhutan tour with Goway! 

ASIA by Goway is an exclusive division that specializes in planning and organizing Bhutan tours, vacations and experiences. Choose from a simple city stopover or see the country highlights when travelling on one of our independent travel modules. We want to be your first choice when next you go globetrotting to Bhutan.