Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary

Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary located mostly in Trashigang District and just crossing the border into Samdrup Jongkhar District, Bhutan.[2] It is one of the country's protected areas. It is listed as a tentative site in Bhutan's Tentative List for UNESCO inclusion.

Sakteng
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)[1]
Location of Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary (pale orange)
LocationTrashigang, Samdrup Jongkhar, Bhutan
Area750 km2 (290 sq mi)

Flora and fauna
Black-rumped magpie

The sanctuary represents the easternmost temperate ecosystems and landscapes of Bhutan,[2] and is part of the Eastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forests ecoregion. It protects several endemic species including the eastern blue pine and the black-rumped magpie.[2]

Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary was created in part to protect the migoi, a yeti-like cryptid whose existence has not been scientifically confirmed, but in which the local population strongly believes.[3][4] The migoi are believed to haunt the northern part of the area.[5][6]

Territorial Dispute

See also: Bhutan–China Doklam border dispute, Bhutan–China border, Doklam#, and India-China Border Roads

The area including Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary made news in June 2020 when the Chinese government claimed it was a territory disputed between China and Bhutan. Bhutan rejected the assertion, and denied that China had ever laid claim to the area in the past.[7] In July 2020, BRO was tasked with building new strategic roads to connect eastern Bhutan to western Tawang area such as Lumla-Trashigang road through Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary.[8]

See also

References
  1. "Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary". World Database on Protected Areas. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  2. Chandra Bisht, Ramesh (2008). International Encyclopaedia Of Himalayas. Mittal Publications. p. 68. ISBN 978-81-8324-265-3.
  3. Jordans, Bart (2008). Bhutan: A Trekker's Guide. Cicerone Press Limited. p. 307. ISBN 978-1-85284-553-7.
  4. "Older Bhutanese Remember Abominable Snowman". Associated Press. 12 August 2008. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  5. Johnsingh, A. J. T. (2006). Field days: a naturalist's journey through South and Southeast Asia. Universities Press. p. 283. ISBN 978-81-7371-552-5.
  6. "Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary". Himalaya 2000 online. Bhutan Travel Guide. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  7. Joshua, Anita. "Beijing now bullies Bhutan". The Telegraph India. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  8. India proposes to build road in Bhutan’s ‘Yeti territory’ which China claimed recently, Economic Times, Jul 15, 2020.
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