Bhutan – Lost Land of the Tiger

Several years ago I happened to be chatting to Dr. Chuck McDougal – one of the world’s great experts on the wild tiger (and my ex-Boss) – about his recently concluded survey of some of Bhutan’s forests on behalf of WWF – Bhutan. One of his most surprising finds was fresh sign of tigers that he found between 8,000 and 10,000 feet. This was fascinating information because where Chuck had found the sign was not atop a pass that tigers might use in crossing between one deep forested valley to another. Rather it was in high country along yak trails. Exactly the sort of country where Gordon Buchanan (the cameraman filming the BBC series on Bhutan’s tigers) found his first sign of tiger at over 10,000 feet in the form of a yak kill. We do know of course that tigers are incredibly adaptable. After all, except for the rarified air, the conditions in these high mountains are no different to the habitat and climatic conditions of the Amur or Siberian tiger. But somehow we have grown accustomed to images of tigers in snow-bound taiga. But here you have what is presumably a small population of the Indian race of tigers living in country that we have become accustomed to thinking of as Snow leopard habitat. Indeed this film makes the point that here is one of the last places left on earth where tigers, snow leopards and leopards share the same habitat. There are other places where the two smaller cats may be found together in the Himalayas – but to find a tiger in this high and inhospitable country begs the question as to what keeps them here? What is their prey? This is not a 100 lb leopard but a 500 lb super predator – the largest cat in the world. No doubt some of the answers will be spun out over the remaining two episodes but to my mind the key is the presence of large herds of yaks – the sort of large prey that tigers need. The film begins in the steaming lowlands of Bhutan – in the Royal Manas  National Park just across the river from Manas Tiger and Biosphere Reserve in the Indian state of Assam.

Bhutan - Lost Land of the Tiger with IndianExplorations.com

It is a stunningly beautiful park – especially along the river and the wealth of wildlife of all descriptions that the film reveals make it an absolute joy to visit. Our trips to Manas are never less than 4 nights and now with the possibility of continuing up into highlands of Bhutan through the park, opens up all sorts of exciting possibilities. I can just imagine a ‘tiger trail’ following reports of tigers from the lowlands to the high pastures beneath the snows. Only Bhutan – with its reverence for all life, its tiny population in a relatively large area, its huge forests – could pull off such a trick.

Bhutan - Lost Land of the Tiger with IndianExplorations.com

Lost Land of the Tiger will be broadcast on BBC One at 21.00BST on Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd September.

Whilst technically of course not in India per se, we love this tiny, eclectic, kingdom so we thought we’d focus briefly on (and remind you about) a holiday to Bhutan.

Located just below Tibet and encircled by the towering Himalayas, Bhutan is mountainous with elevations ranging from an almost-tropical 100m to a chilly 7554m on the Tibetan border. Sparsely populated with just over 700,000 inhabitants, Bhutan has a sensitive, evocative soul as the only surviving Buddhist kingdom in the Himalayan region. Dzongs, or pretty fortress-like monasteries, dot the countryside while the people’s faith permeates all aspects of secular life.

Bhutan - Young Monk At Paro Dzong

The kingdom’s environment is pristine with a variety of habitats from jungles and rugged hills to rhododendron forests and sweeping valleys. 90% of the population are hill farmers who live in villages and, until the 1960’s, the fabled Land of the Thunder Dragon was unknown to tourists. In 1972, the King decided to open and modernise the country by developing industry and agriculture but the Government of Bhutan still measures its nation’s well being by not only Gross National Product but also by Gross National Happiness – an official policy passed by parliament!

Bhutanese Prayer Flags

There’s something for everyone on a holiday to Bhutan. One can simply relax and stroll around dzongs, stupas and museums or take more strenuous hikes with higher ascents and more demanding routes. The Bhutanese work hard to maintain their 13 traditional art and crafts which include weaving, wood carving, embroidery, painting, carpentry, masonry, leather working, sculpture, sand and wax casting, smithing (iron, gold and silver), bamboo/cane working and the art of making paper. Visits to the craftsmen and women are therefore a “must”. Then there’s mountain biking, visiting festivals, archery, rafting, kayaking, plenty of interesting flora including the superb rhododendron forests, birding, plenty of other cultural possibilities and so on.

Bhutanese In Traditional Dress

With the advent of Como Hotels and Aman one can stay at extraordinarily comfortable establishments with very good spa facilities and eating the most exquisite cuisine (and having the best guides) or stay at charming 2/3 star Bhutanese government lodges which are more basic. This is perfect to suit a range of requirements for individual clients.

Call us on 0844 504 3926 for more information and to chat about some ideas for an unforgettable and utterly tailor-made holiday to Bhutan.