bhutan

65
Bhutan Tiger Action Plan 2006-2015
mythical garuda, snow lion and dragon). Most
Bhutanese are Buddhist and respect all forms of
life. The tiger is also revered because it is believed to be
the protector of Buddhism and the mount of
Guru Rinpoche, who flew on the back of a tigress
when he brought Buddhism to Bhutan in the eighth
century. Taktshang, or "Tiger's Den" is one of the
holiest temples in Bhutan.
Bhutan offers one of the best opportunities
for the long-term survival of the tiger. Over
a quarter of its surface area, about 10,714
km2, was estimated to be potential tiger
habitat (McDougal & Tshering 1998).
However, logically, all forested areas in Bhutan,
connected with the main tiger habitat is potential tiger
habitat. More surveys and field investigations need to
be carried out to confirm this. Additionally, nowhere
else can the tiger move in contiguous forests over such
a wide range in altitude, from 100 to over 4000 masl.
Bhutan is also one of the last places on earth where
large cats such as the tiger can undergo evolutionary
processes under fairly undisturbed natural
conditions. Tigers exist at the edge of snow leopard
habitat in the north, with leopards in much of Bhutan,
and also with clouded leopards in the lower areas.
They survive on different prey species in different