Flora and fauna

Bhutan is one of the last remaining biodiversity hotspots in the world. Forest cover has increased to over 72 per cent of the country, with 60 per cent under protection.

The array of flora and fauna is unparalleled, due to conservation and to the wide altitudinal and climatic range. Physically, the country divides into three zones: the alpine zone above 4,000 m with no forest cover; the temperate zone from 2,000 to 4,000 m with conifer or broadleaf forest; and the subtropical zone from 150 to 2,000 m.

Forest types include fir, mixed conifer, blue pine, chir pine, broadleaf mixed with conifer, upland and lowland hardwood, and tropical lowland forest. Almost 60 per cent of the plant species found in the eastern Himalayan region are present in Bhutan.

There are about 300 species of medicinal plant and about 46 species of rhododendron. Common sights include magnolias, junipers, orchids of varied hues, gentian, daphne, giant rhubarb, the blue poppy, and fir, pine and oak.

High altitude species include snow leopard, Bengal tiger (found at 3,000 to 4,000 m, which is unusual), red panda, goral, langur, Himalayan black bear, sambar, wild pig, barking deer, blue sheep and musk deer.

In the tropical forests of the south you can come across clouded leopard, one-horned rhinoceros, elephant, water buffalo and swamp deer, along with the golden langur, a monkey unique to Bhutan.

Birds. Bhutan is recognised as an area of high biological diversity and is known as the East Himalayan hotspot, part of the 221 global endemic bird areas. Over 670 species have been recorded and the number is expected to rise. About 415 are resident, moving up and down the mountains with the seasons. Around 50 species migrate in winter (buntings, waders, ducks, thrushes and birds of prey), and some 40 are partial migrants, including swifts, cuckoos, bee-eaters, flycatchers and warblers.

Bhutan is home to about 16 globally endangered bird species, including the white-bellied heron, Pallas's fish eagle and Blyth's kingfisher. Phobjikha in Wangdue Phodrang and Bomdeling in Trashi Yangtse are the two important wintering sites for the endangered black-necked crane.

As one of the ten global hotspots, Bhutan is committed to preserving its environment, and has the distinction of being one of the only nations whose forest cover has actually grown.