Bhutan - Lindsay Brown [65]
When they reach the plains, the rivers drop much of the glacial silt they have collected and follow a meandering course over gravel stream beds. There are several oxbow lakes in the plains where rivers have changed their course over the years.
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WILDLIFE
Bhutan features a tremendous diversity of plants and animals living in a range of ecosystems from subtropical jungle barely above sea level to snowbound mountains above 7500m. The country’s various habitats are believed to contain over 5500 species of plants, and close to 200 species of mammals and over 600 species of birds.
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The musk deer is a primitive deer that has no antlers; both sexes have oversized canine teeth that protrude from its mouth, in males these protruding teeth can be 7cm long and are used in territorial battles.
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Animals
Large mammals abound in the wilds of Bhutan, but unless you are trekking or until Royal Manas National Park is opened up you will be very lucky to see more than a few examples. The neighbourhood of Royal Manas is home to a large variety of well-known south Asian game species: water buffalo, gaur, serow, wild pig and several species of deer: sambar, muntjac, chital, and hog. It is also the best place to see Asian elephants and the very rare greater one-horned rhinoceros.
On the high trails you may well be lucky enough to spot herds of blue sheep, or bharal. Blue sheep are goat-antelopes, taxonomically somewhere between goats and sheep, that turn a bluish-grey in winter and are found from 1800m to 4300m. Other mammals that prefer the high life include wolves, yaks and the diminutive, unusual musk deer. The male’s musk gland is a highly valued perfume ingredient and this secretive deer is a target for indiscriminate poaching. Fat marmots whistle as you pass their burrows in the high alpine pastures and the curious takins (Click here) can be seen in northwestern and far northeastern Bhutan. However, the most likely place to see a takin is in the Motithang Takin Preserve in Thimphu (Click here).
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The grey, golden and capped langurs have a specially adapted stomach for digesting leaves and are not an agricultural pest.
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MONKEYS
Several species of monkey are found in Bhutan and some of these are active throughout the day and may be seen not far from villages or a main road – so keep an eye on the roadside trees on those long drives. Most common are the Assamese macaques: reddish brown, stumpy-tailed monkeys travelling on the ground in troops of 10 to 50 individuals. They are found throughout Bhutan up to 2900m. Rhesus macaques are similar and are the dominant monkey of the Indian planes. In Bhutan the bold rhesus is confined to the southern foothills.
Langurs are elegant, arboreal monkeys with graceful limbs and extraordinarily long tails and a charismatic presence. Three species of langur make a home in Bhutan’s forests – up to 3600m in altitude, and usually high up in the forest canopy. The common grey or Hanuman langur is found west of Pele La; the capped langur is found east of the Manas Chhu in eastern Bhutan, while the famous golden langur is only found from the Puna Tsang Chhu in the west to the Manas Chhu in the east. This beautiful primate’s existence was not even known to the scientific community until the 20th century. Not surprisingly, its distinctive feature is its golden coat.
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Though able to reach 80 years of age, elephants’ life spans are determined by their teeth: their molars are replaced as they wear down, but only up to six times. When the final set is worn, the elephant dies of starvation.
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BIG