Jigme Dorji National Park
Jigme Dorji National Park (JDNP) is the second largest national park in Bhutan with an area of 4316 sq. km.
Located in the north western park of the country, the park also shares international border with the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China. JDNP is rich in biodiversity with a present record of 36 mammals, 328 birds, 5 reptiles, 300 medicinal plants, and 39 butterflies. It was in JDNP where tigers were first sighted above 4000 meters sharing habitat with snow leopards. Besides the rich floral and faunal diversity, the sources of four major rivers, Pachhu, Wangchhu, Phochhu and Mochhu lie in the park as well.
The park spans across 5 districts, namely Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Wangduephodrang and Gasa. Park headquarters based in Damji, Gasa and its 4 range offices addresses common challenges faced by protected areas elsewhere, like human-wildlife
conflicts, unsustainable collection/or use of forest resources, and illegal wildlife trade.
Royal Manas National Park
Royal Manas National Park is the oldest National Park situated in the south central foothills of Bhutan (90°35’ E to 91°13’E and 26° 46’N to 27° 08’N). Spanning an area of 1057 km2, the national park falls within the political jurisdiction
of three Dzongkhags i.e.,Zhemgang, Sarpang and Pemagatshel. The national park can be accessed from Bhutan, and the Indian state of Assam.
Wangchuk Centennial National Park
In 2008, WCNP was formally designated as the 10th national park to pay tribute to Wangchuck Dynasty for selflessly leading Bhutan for 100 years. Located ideally within the rich Himalayan ecosystem, WCNP is not only the largest national park in the country with area coverage of 4919 Km2 but with its inclusion, Bhutan's protected area system now stands at 51.32% i.e. more than half of Bhutan.
WCNP represents one of the best examples of the middle Himalayan ecological biomes ranging from blue pine to
alpine meadows. It snows at higher altitudes spreading over the jurisdiction of 5 districts- Gasa, Wangduephodrang, Trongsa, Bumthang and Lhuentse Dzongkhags.
Surveys conducted in the park revealed that 244 species of vascular plants, 23 species of large mammals and 134 species of birds are present. The park harbors several charismatic wildlife species such as Snow leopard (Uncia uncia), Takin (Budorcas taxicolor whitei), Common leopard (panthera pardus) and Himalayan black bear
(Ursus thibetanus laniger). The Tibetan wolf (Canis lupus chanco) confirmed in WCNP is not reported elsewhere in Bhutan.
Phipsoo Wildlife Sanctuary
Covering a sub-tropical expanse of 269 km2, Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary (PWS), located in southern part of Bhutan is the smallest of the ten national parks in the country. It borders India from Sunkosh River in the west to Sanathang River in the east. In the southern belt, PWS is connected to Indian protected areas - Petu Reserve Forest, Buxa Tiger Reserve, Ripu- Chirang Reserve Forest and Dhaneshi Ridge.
Historically, PWS’s origins dates back to as early as 1974 when it was first designated a Reserved Forest. It was only in 1993 that PWS was upgraded to a wildlife sanctuary.
Two unique characteristics that sets PWS apart from other protected areas in the country- Spotted Deer (Axis Axis) and natural sal (Shorea robusta) forests, found nowhere else in the country. Besides these, PWS also harbours other important tropical species such as elephant, gaur and golden langur.
PWS had long remained a paper park ; it was only in 2009 that the first steps toward conservation efforts began. The park is also recuperating from the scars of the country’s militia problems in the 1990s - the lone reason for its isolation for so long.
Jigme Singye Wangchuk National Park
Know previously as Black Mountain National Park, Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park (JSWNP) is the third largest park in the country covering an expanse of 1,723 sq. km. The park has recorded the highest number of 391 bird species among all the protected areas in the country. Apart from being a bird paradise, other key species like tiger, red panda, golden langur, rufous necked hornbill, white bellied heron, musk deer, etc are also known to be found in the park as well. Mangdechhu, Chamkharchhu, Punatsangchhu and Manas rivers flowing through the park supports the rich habitat of the park.
Like all other protected areas, JSWNP also has a fair set of challenges that makes balancing ecological conservation extremely difficult. Habitat fragmentation, human wildlife conflicts, unsustainable forest resource use, development activities (construction of farm roads, hydropower plant and transmission lines), poaching are some of the its pressing challenges park faces. Climate change is also expected to impact the park’s water sources, other ecosystems, biodiversity, and lives and livelihood of the people negatively, though however no studies have been conducted to confirm.
Prumsengla National Park
Know previously as Black Mountain National Park, Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park (JSWNP) is the third largest park in the
country covering an expanse of 1,723 sq. km. The park has recorded the highest number of 391 bird species among all the protected areas in the country. Apart from being a bird paradise, other key species like tiger, red panda, golden langur, rufous necked hornbill, white bellied heron, musk deer, etc are also known to be found in the park as well. Mangdechhu, Chamkharchhu, Punatsangchhu and Manas rivers flowing through the park supports the rich habitat of the park.
Like all other protected areas, JSWNP also has a fair set of challenges that makes balancing ecological conservation extremely difficult. Habitat fragmentation, human wildlife conflicts, unsustainable forest resource use, development activities (construction of farm roads, hydropower plant and transmission lines), poaching are some of the its pressing challenges park faces. Climate change is also expected to impact the park’s water sources, other ecosystems, biodiversity,
and lives and livelihood of the people negatively, though however no studies have been conducted to confirm.