| Wild Life
Mountain slopes, foot -hills and valley walls covered
with a variety of dense growth offer a natural habitat for many
types of animals, birds and insects. About 500-600 species of birds and
631 species of butterflies alone are found in this small state. Orchids
found in abundance attract several hundreds species of butterflies which
can offer a lepidopterist a lifetime of work and delight. In forest surrounded
valleys the butterflies are found inn swarming numbers .
The black and the dreaded brown bear are mostly found
in forests located at heights ranging from 4,000 feet to 11,000 feet (1250
metres to 3453 metres) above sea level. Musk deer are quite common in
areas with an average height of 9000feet (about 2800 meters). Tiger, leopard,
sambar, barking deer, leopard cat, marbed cat, squirrel are mostly confined
to warmer areas. Yak, panda, otter, goral, wild bear, ovis, nahura, bhyang-lung
(wild sheep )and Vyang-gra (wild goat) are other animals that can be seen
in Sikkim. Otter is much prized for the brocaded fur caps worn by
some Sikkimese. The tail-less mountain rats, rock Lizards and snow fox
like predators are also found in high altitudes.
Numerous species of birds ranging from gigantic Imamergeyer
to the miniscule flower pecker abound in the forests of Sikkim and are
enough to make this land an Ornithologists paradise. Flamboyant pheasants,
partridges, ducks, quails, teals, eagles, barbet, Himalayan cuckoo, Babblers
and Thrushes are some of the birds found in Sikkim. The Tibetan black
crow with rosy feet is also found in northern Sikkim. The bright red coloured
Miniwet known as "Red King" in Nepal has also its habitat in
Sikkim. Crap and Trout fish abound in the rivers and lakes of the state. |
