Bhutan lies among a spectacularly rugged terrain coated in lush greenery. More than 72% of Bhutan’s territory is covered by forest, and more than half of the country’s landmass falls within protected areas that are home to the incredibly charismatic Bhutan animals.
One of the most popular ways to experience Bhutan’s nature is the hike to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery perched high up on the side of a mountain. But not many visitors to Bhutan realise that the country is home to 10 protected areas with a combined area of almost 20,000 square kilometres – nearly the size of Switzerland.
Bhutan is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots and the world’s first and only carbon-negative country. The kingdom is home to 90 species of mammals, 770 species of birds and at least 5,400 species of plants.
If you don’t know much about Bhutan animals, read on to discover what wildlife you could spot on your travels in the Kingdom and what the best national parks are for spotting wildlife in Bhutan.
Bhutan’s Wildlife
The expansive network of National Parks of Bhutan is home to an outstanding diversity of wildlife species and ecosystems. So what animals live in Bhutan?
The lush tropical forest in the southern lowlands is home to tigers, rhinos, clouded leopards and sloth bears. The forests of the temperate zone are home to leopards, goral and serow and the national animal of Bhutan – the amazing Takin.
The wildlife of the Himalayan mountains in the north of the country is similar to the species found across the Tibetan Plateau, including the enigmatic snow leopard, blue sheep, marmot, Tibetan wolf and Himalayan musk deer.
Without further ado, let’s meet 15 of the most charismatic animals of Bhutan.
Takin – the National animal of Bhutan
To Bhutanese people, the most iconic animal is the takin. It is the national animal of Bhutan. With a nose like a moose, horns like a wildebeest and body like a bison, the Takin is the most odd-looking of Bhutan’s animals. Even the biologists didn’t know what to call it. So they settled on calling it a goat antelope. Sadly, the Bhutan takin is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, mainly because of overhunting and habitat loss.
Snow Leopard
Bhutan is home to four big cats: snow leopard, Bengal tiger, leopard and clouded leopard. Not many people know or talk about the snow leopards in Bhutan, but they are found living in the high-altitude valleys of the Himalayas.
Bhutan has about 10,000 sq km of the potential snow leopard range that is thought to contain 100-200 snow leopards. If you hike the Snowman trek in northern Bhutan, you will be walking through the snow leopard’s habitat and might have a chance to spot this elusive cat.
Bengal Tiger
Globally endangered, tigers are thriving in Bhutan. The kingdom is home to 103 tigers according to the latest population census. They can be found across the country from the lowlands in the south to the elevations of over 4000 metres in the north. What is even better, the tigers move between the different populations in Bhutan, maintaining the much-needed genetic exchange.
Clouded Leopard
The smallest of the world’s big cats, the clouded leopard is almost as elusive as the snow leopard. Its preference for dense jungle habitat makes it one of the most difficult animals to spot in the wild. Luckily for Bhutan, most sightings come from Manas National Park in India, which lies adjacent to the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan.
The clouded leopard is an excellent climber. Its bag of tricks includes the ability to descend from trees head-first, hang off tree branches by a back foot or climb along horizontal branches hanging upside-down. However, if you do encounter it, it will most likely be on the ground.
Goral
Another mountain specialist, goral, is a goat-like ungulate that prefers rocky hillside habitats at higher elevations across the great Himalayas. To keep warm on the windswept mountain slopes, goral have woolly undercoats covered by long, coarser hair, which gives them a somewhat shaggy appearance.
Serow
Similar in appearance to goral, the Himalayan serow is another odd-looking goat antelope. Slightly larger than the goral, serows also like the rocky hillsides, though they are not as agile as their larger relatives. Serow is a protected species in Bhutan, it is threatened mainly by habitat loss and hunting for its meat.
Musk Deer
The White-bellied Musk deer is found in high-altitude habitats in Bhutan, Nepal and northern India. This hornless deer has a special gland on its abdomen that secretes a waxy substance called musk. Male musk deer use it to Mark their territories and to attract females.
Sadly, humans find the musk sent appealing as well, and the deer has been hunted almost to extinction for the sake of the perfume industry. As a result, it is currently listed as Endangered and protected by law in Bhutan.
Dhole
Dhole is not a well-known animal in Bhutan, and it is often mistaken for a wolf. Also known as Asian wild dogs, they are highly social animals that live in large clans with strict social dominance structures, not unlike the African wild dogs. And just like their African cousins, dholes are threatened with extinction and listed as Endangered. In Bhutan, they are found in the Jigme Dorji National Park.
Bharal
Also known as the Himalayan blue sheep, bharal is a medium-sized sheep that is predominantly found in the high-altitude regions in Bhutan. The bharals are the most agile animals in Bhutan, and possibly, the world. They are capable of easily navigating the near-vertical sheer cliffs of the Himalayas. And they put their skills to good use to escape the attacks of their main predator – the snow leopard.
Red Panda
Often overshadowed by the popularity of its larger namesake, the giant panda, to which it’s not closely related, the red panda is one of the most charismatic Bhutan animals. It is a small arboreal animal with a thick reddish-brown coat and white tips on its face and ears. Sadly the population of the red panda is declining and it is listed as Endangered.
Binturong
Another tree-dweller of Bhutan, the binturong, looks somewhat similar to the red panda but lacks some of its charisma. It prefers a warmer climate and feeds mainly on fruit. The binturong is completely at home in the trees and even has a prehensile tail that it can use to hang off tree branches when it’s reaching for fruit with its forefeet.
Golden Langur
The most endangered primate on the Indian sub-continent, the golden langur has an exceptionally small distribution range. It is known from only two populations: one on the border between the Indian state of Assam and Bhutan and another in the Indian state of Tripura. Due to such a small distribution range, this golden-coloured monkey is listed as Endangered, with the population on the India-Bhutan border doing slightly better.
One-horned Rhino
The greater one-horned rhino, also known as the Indian rhino, is the largest of the rhino species and the second-largest land mammal in Asia after the Asian elephant. It once roamed across most of the northern part of the Indian subcontinent but was subsequently hunted almost to extinction. Today, it is one of the most endangered of Bhutan’s animals.
Thankfully, once adequate protection was afforded to the rhino, its recovery became one of the best conservation success stories in the world. In Bhutan, your best chance of spotting the rhino is in the Royal Manas National Park.
Sloth Bear
About the same size as an Asian black bear, the sloth bear is one of the most recognisable Bhutan animals. Its shaggy coat, whitish claws, and lanky build are unmistakable. It walks with a slow, shuffling gait and appears quite clumsy, but don’t let it fool you. It’s capable of galloping faster than a running human. The sloth bear feeds primarily on fruit, nuts and termites that they can suck up from their nests in huge quantities.
Tibetan Wolf
A subspecies of the grey wolf, the Tibetan wolf is native to the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas. It is slightly larger than its European cousins and has a thicker and lighter fur.
Wolves get a bad rap for hunting domestic stock, particularly sheep and goats, which makes them unwelcome neighbours for the local herders. For the best chance of spotting wolves in Bhutan, visit Wangchuck Centennial National Park.
Thank you Lisa, I sent you an email :)
And it has this air of mystery to it. I think it’s one of the most fascinating countries/kingdoms in the world. There may be opportunities to volunteer in Bhutan via the UN for example.
I have seen a few. I have a soft spot for the Himalayan wildlife.
Confession – I just became introduced to Bhutan as a trip destination. Now, after reading your article, I can’t wait to go there. Those cats! The sloth bears! I want to leave right now! Thank you for this fabulous article.
Summer months, in general, would be better for high altitude areas. Although, in winter, the angulates come to the lower altitudes, where the grass is not covered by snow, and the snow leopards follow them. The snow leopards are going to be very tough to spot though. So probably summer is still best for trekking and general exploring.
Bhutan is a country I previously overlooked because I thought it was expensive to go there. I do hope to visit one day soon though, and it would be amazing to see any of these animals there in the wild! I hope to visit the National Parks you mentioned also. Great post!
I know what you mean. It is still quite expensive to travel in Bhutan, especially if you try to get off the beaten path. But it also makes it more rewarding. A multi-day hike in one of these national parks would be a great way to see the Himalayas and spot some of the wildlife.
I can’t explain how much I love this post. The wildlife are absolutely stunning. Bhutan is high on my bucket list and definitely want to experience the religious significance of the country but also the stunning wildlife and nature in general.
I find Himalayan wildlife to be some of the most fascinating in the world. Most of them are so tough yet so very beautiful. Bhutan has one of the best networks of protected areas too, with most of the national parks and wildlife reserves connected by wildlife corridors. On the one hand, I wish Bhutan would build a little bit more infrastructure for wildlife tourism, but on the other hand, I wish these areas remain untouched and undisturbed.