Sikkim's
Kingdom Animalia has a large selection of animals and birds. The dense
forests of Sikkim provide a comfortable habitat to the fauna in the
state. Sikkim also allows snow leopard, wild ass, leopard, red panda,
Himalayan black bear, musk deer and flying squirrel to roam in its area.
In the alpine zones, the yaks are quite prominent and residents have
also kept them to get milk, meat, wool and other useful items from the
animal. The musk deer is a part of endangered species and it can be
found in the upper temperate zones.The barking deer is a common animal in Sikkim. On the treetops at altitudes between 6,000 and 12,000 ft, you can see Red Panda that really looks cute. You must have read about Snow leopard in stories, but Sikkim comprises this animal in real. Although, the animal hardly comes across the sight, up to now, only two zoologists have captured its photographs. Amongst others, Blue sheep, flying squirrels, binturong, tahrs, marmots and mush deer are some more populace of the region.
The avifauna of Sikkim comprises 30% of the total birds, found in the whole Indian subcontinent. Sikkim encompasses more than 650 species of butterflies that are traceable at different altitudes. Not concluding the bird fauna, Sikkim also has more than 600 species of birds including Impeyan Pheasant, Crimson Horned Pheasant, Snow Partridge, Snow Cock, Lammergeyer, Griffon Vultures, Golden Eagles, Quail, Plovers, Woodcock, Sandpipers, Pigeons, Old World Flycatchers, Babblers and Robins.
The extensive flora & fauna of Sikkim made Government to convert the densely animal-populated regions into wildlife sanctuaries. The main cause for this conversion was to protect the wildlife from the poachers. Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary, Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary, Kyongnosia Alpine Sanctuary, Khangchendzonga National Park, Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary and Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary are the places, where both animals and plants reside in complete harmony with each other.
