Flaura And Fauna

How many species of flora and fauna are there in Sikkim?

Sikkim's botanical and zoological richness is awe- inspiring, boasting of more than 4000 species of plants and 30% of all the birds found in the Indian sub-continent. Sikkim's 600 varieties of orchids are a feast for the eye. Most of this beautiful and virgin area comes under the Khangchendzonga National Park.

Slogan: "Sikkim's Flora and Fauna: Nature's Treasure Unveiled!" This slogan encapsulates the essence of Sikkim's natural wealth, emphasising the magnificent variety of its flora and fauna, the enchanting landscapes, and the collective efforts to conserve this precious natural heritage.

Sub-tropicals regions are home to the red panda, red fox vulpes , the golden jackel,leopards, Asiatic black bear,palm civets, flying squirrels, wild boars,japalura lizards,cobras,kraits abd mountain pit vipers. The gaur - one of India's largest bovids - has been seen in Pangolaka Wildilfe Sanctuary.

The avifauna of Sikkim include the impeyan pheasant, crimson horned pheasant, snow partridge, Tibetan snowcock, bearded vulture and griffon vulture, as well as golden eagles, quails, plovers, woodcocks, sandpipers, pigeons, Old World flycatchers, babblers and robins. Sikkim has more than 550 species of birds, some of which have been declared endangered.

Sikkim also has a rich diversity of arthropods, many of which remain unstudied. Some of the most understudied species are Sikkimese arthropods, specifically butterflies. Of the approximately 1,438 butterfly species found in the Indian subcontinent, 695 have been recorded in Sikkim. These include the endangered Kaiser-i-hind, the Yellow Gorgon and the Bhutan Glory.

The stunted forest is mainly of rhododendron of many species. Dominant wild fauna includes Musk Deer, Himalayan Tahr, Blue Sheep, Blood Pheasant, Ibisbill and a Snow toad. River systems harbour some of the (introduced) trout Salmo trutta fario. Most of the flora of this region attracts interest for medicinal purposes.