Press Release
Press Release From Forest And Environment Department
Information & Public Relations Department
Forest Conservation in Sikkim facilitates Transboundary Tiger movement between Sikkim and Bhusan
The Forest and Environment Department, Government of Sikkim has achieved a significant milestone in wildlife conservation by facilitating the movement of tigers between Sikkim(India) and Bhutan. This highlights the importance of sustainable ecosystem management and transboundary conservation initiatives of Sikkim.
Established in 2002, Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, under Pakyong district, Sikkim spanning 128 sq. km, serves as a crucial corridor for wildlife, particularly tigers, between India and Bhutan. In collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India, camera traps installed across Sikkim's high-altitude regions documented three tigers in the sanctuary between 2018 and 2024. This indicates the sanctuary's vital role in tiger conservation and places Sikkim on the national Tiger Conservation map.
This year 2024, camera trap images confirmed tiger movement from Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary to Samtse district, Bhutan validating the existence of essential wildlife corridors between the two countries. This finding emerged from an international workshop on “Countering Wildlife Trafficking”, held from June 11-13, 2024, under the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) hosted by Bhutan, where officials from various South Asian countries participated.
During the workshop, Sikkim's Divisional Forest Officer, East Wildlife Division, Ms. Sonam Norden Bhutia and Bhutanese Forest officials agreed to share camera trap images for a comparative analysis. This collaboration yielded a remarkable outcome: one of the tiger's distinctive stripe patterns matched those from Sikkim and Bhutan, as confirmed by the Wildlife Institute of India.
This finding underscores the need to protect transboundary wildlife corridors and highlights the success of conservation efforts in Sikkim and Bhutan. The movement of tigers reflects the effectiveness of habitat preservation and restoration efforts emphasizing their resilience and the health of Sikkim’s ecosystem.
Looking forward, the Sikkim Forest and Environment Department remains committed to enhancing its conservation efforts, including scaling up monitoring, strengthening law enforcement, and involving local communities. These initiatives aim to ensure the long-term survival of tiger populations and signal a promising future for wildlife conservation across borders.
The Forest and Environment Department, Government of Sikkim has achieved a significant milestone in wildlife conservation by facilitating the movement of tigers between Sikkim(India) and Bhutan. This highlights the importance of sustainable ecosystem management and transboundary conservation initiatives of Sikkim.
Established in 2002, Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, under Pakyong district, Sikkim spanning 128 sq. km, serves as a crucial corridor for wildlife, particularly tigers, between India and Bhutan. In collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India, camera traps installed across Sikkim's high-altitude regions documented three tigers in the sanctuary between 2018 and 2024. This indicates the sanctuary's vital role in tiger conservation and places Sikkim on the national Tiger Conservation map.
This year 2024, camera trap images confirmed tiger movement from Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary to Samtse district, Bhutan validating the existence of essential wildlife corridors between the two countries. This finding emerged from an international workshop on “Countering Wildlife Trafficking”, held from June 11-13, 2024, under the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) hosted by Bhutan, where officials from various South Asian countries participated.
During the workshop, Sikkim's Divisional Forest Officer, East Wildlife Division, Ms. Sonam Norden Bhutia and Bhutanese Forest officials agreed to share camera trap images for a comparative analysis. This collaboration yielded a remarkable outcome: one of the tiger's distinctive stripe patterns matched those from Sikkim and Bhutan, as confirmed by the Wildlife Institute of India.
This finding underscores the need to protect transboundary wildlife corridors and highlights the success of conservation efforts in Sikkim and Bhutan. The movement of tigers reflects the effectiveness of habitat preservation and restoration efforts emphasizing their resilience and the health of Sikkim’s ecosystem.
Looking forward, the Sikkim Forest and Environment Department remains committed to enhancing its conservation efforts, including scaling up monitoring, strengthening law enforcement, and involving local communities. These initiatives aim to ensure the long-term survival of tiger populations and signal a promising future for wildlife conservation across borders.