Jigme Dorji National Park – A Wild Treasure Of Bhutan

Location and Overview

Jigme Dorji National Park is located in north-western Bhutan. It is the second largest national park in the country as it stretches over an area of 4316 square kilometers. The park spans over almost all of the Gasa district and extends into the Thimphu, Paro, Punakha and Wangdue Podrang districts. Established in 1974, Jigme Dorji National Park is one of the oldest national parks in Bhutan as well as one of the richest parks in cultural and biological diversity as stated by UNESCO and WWF. The park was established in 1974, and it is high up in Bhutan’s Tentative List for UNESCO inclusion.

History and Geography

Jigme Dorji National Park is named in the memory of Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, who was the third King of Bhutan. It is located on the border of Bhutan and the Tibet region of China. The park features some of the richest ecosystems in the Eastern Himalayas and contains a variety of different landscapes like beautiful meadows, magnificent mountain peaks, and lakes. The Jigme Dorji National Park encompasses all three of the climate zones in Bhutan and contains diverse topographies with elevation ranging from 1600 to 7000 meters. The sources of four major rivers, Pacchhu, Wangchhu, Phochhu and Mochu lie in the Jigme Dorji National Park allowing for the formation of diverse habitats for an extensive variety of flora and fauna.

Habitat and Biodiversity

The Jigme Dorji National Park provides sanctuary for a wide variety of endangered or threatened wildlife such as the Red Panda, Musk Deer, and Blue Sheep. Additionally, the park is unique due to it being the only park in the world where the habitats of Royal Bengal Tigers overlap with those of the snow leopards. A recent survey shows that the park contains over 300 different varieties of medicinal plants and 328 different species of birds with new ones being discovered through further exploration. Another interesting feature of the Jigme Dorji National Park  is that all four of Bhutan’s National Symbols exist together. These are the national tree (Cypress), flower (Blue Poppy), bird (Raven) and animal (Takin).

Threats and Conservation

The major threats to the Jigme Dorji National Park and its diverse wildlife are the poaching of animals for the illegal wildlife trade despite major efforts having been made to combat this by the authorities. Other problems include the management of forest resources, developmental activities and human-wildlife conflicts. Despite these issues, the Jigme Dorji National Park is one of Bhutan’s greater successes in conservation. New development and construction projects are not given a green signal if they don’t meet the strict criteria. Other than these, the usual issues of misuse of forest resources, illegal wildlife trade, and human-wildlife conflicts continue to arise and addressed by the park management as per need

Tourism

The Jigme Dorji National Park is often referred to as a trekker’s paradise. It is popular for its exceptionally stunning scenic beauty and tourists often come here to enjoy the lush verdure. The wildlife safari here is also a favorite for visitors. The Jigme Dorji National Park's numerous hot springs and medicinal baths also attract a lot of visitors all year round. The presence of cultural and heritage sites is of special interest to a select group of tourists as well as locals. Finally, the breathtaking views of the Himalayas tempt the resolve of many tourists who never wish to return from this heaven on earth.

Written By: Bilal A. Usman