Below you can find a complete list of Bhutanese animals. We currently track 236 animals in Bhutan and are adding more every day!
The kingdom of Bhutan is a small Asian country bordered on the south, east, and west by India and the north by China. Located on the slopes and foothills of the eastern Himalayas, the country features unusually diverse habitats from tropical lowlands to deciduous and pine forests to alpine terrain. This contributes to the diversity of Bhutan’s unique wildlife. The kingdom has received praise for its commitment to its wildlife and has pledged to dedicate over 25 percent of its land to parks and reserves.
The Official National Animal of Bhutan
The official national animal of Bhutan is the takin. This unique animal looks like muskox but is more closely related to sheep. Like the muskox, it is a large, stocky animal, with short, thick legs and spurred hooves with two toes. It has curving horns that can grow between 12 and 25 inches. Both sexes have horns. The takin has a coat of long, shaggy wool, and the faces of the males are dark. The animal stands between 38 and 55 inches at the shoulder and has a body length of between 63 and 87 inches. Males weigh between 660 and 770 pounds while females tend to weigh slightly less. Still, whether males or females are larger is uncertain, as the largest captive takin was a female who weighed 710 pounds.
The takin figures prominently in Bhutanese mythology. According to legend, the Buddhist monk Drukpa Kunley’s followers asked him to perform a miracle after a banquet where he ate a whole cow and a whole goat. So he took some of the cow bones and some of the goat bones and created the takin.
Where To Find The Top Wild Animals in Bhutan
The top wild animals in Bhutan can be found in Royal Manas National Park, which is home to the gaur, the largest of the wild cattle, wild pigs, and Asian elephants. Some animals in Bhutan, such as the one-horned Indian rhinoceros, are extinct in other parts of the world.
Other protected areas in Bhutan are the Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary, Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve, Jigme Dorji National Park, Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, Jomotsangkha Wildlife Sanctuary, Phrumsengla National Park, and the Wangchuck Centennial National Park.
The royal government operates the Motithang Takin Preserve and the Royal Society for Protection of Nature maintains Phobjikha Valley.
The Most Dangerous Animals In Bhutan Today
- Bears – The Himalayan black bear has been known to attack humans in Bhutan. This is most likely because the near-sighted bear mistakes a standing human for another bear that’s challenging it.
- Leopard – The leopard, which is considered vulnerable to becoming extinct, rarely kills humans but should be treated with respect.
- Tiger – Tiger attacks in Bhutan are also rare, but tigers in other parts of the Indian subcontinent have been famously known to kill and even eat human beings. Between 1800 and 2009 373,000 people were killed by these magnificent but dangerous beasts, and that may be an undercount.
- Indian cobra – This venomous snake is small compared to the king cobra that’s also found in Bhutan. It prefers to flee if it’s threatened, but is dangerous if forced to defend itself or its eggs. The Indian cobra is one of four venomous snakes responsible for most of the death or injury from snakebite in the Indian subcontinent.
Endangered Animals In Bhutan
- Takin – Unfortunately, the status of Bhutan’s national animal is vulnerable.
- Hispid hare – This animal, also called the bristly rabbit, is endangered.
- Himalayan musk deer – This little deer is endangered.
- Golden langur – This Old World monkey is endangered.
- Dhole – This wild dog is very close to going extinct.
Bhutanese Animals
Admiral Butterfly
Stunningly beautiful wings
Ant
First evolved 100 million years ago!
Antelope
Renew their horns every year!
Armyworm
They are so named because they "march" in armies of worms from one crop to another in search of food
Asian Palm Civet
It mainly eats mangos and coffee!
Atlas Moth
Adult atlas moths do not eat - they live off fat they stored as larvae.
Aurochs
Extinct ancestor of all domesticated cattle!
Avocet
Has a curved, upturned beak!
Banana Spider
People spin clothing and fishing nets out of these spiders’ silk.
Barb
There are over 1768 known species!
Barn Owl
Found everywhere around the world!
Barn Swallow
Older offspring help care for new hatchlings.
Bat
Detects prey using echolocation!
Bear
There are 8 different species!
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs feed for 4-12 minutes.
Bee
Rock paintings of bees date back 15,000 years
Beetle
There are more than 350,000 different species
Bird
Not all birds are able to fly!
Biscuit Beetle
The biscuit beetle form a symbiotic relationship with yeast
Black Widow Spider
They typically prey on insects!
Brazilian Treehopper
“Mild-Mannered Minimonsters”
Brown Dog Tick
Can live its entire life indoors
Bumblebee
The most common species of bee!
Butterfly
There are thought to be up 17,500 species!
Caecilian
Some species' babies use their hooked or scraper-like teeth to peel off and eat their mother's skin
Camel Cricket
The camel crickets that are found in the USA are light brown in color. They also have dark streaks all over their body.
Carpenter Ant
Carpenter ants can lift up to seven times their own weight with their teeth!
Cashmere Goat
Cashmere goat are named after Kashmir regions of India and Pakistan
Cat
May have been domesticated up to 10,000 years ago.
Caterpillar
The larvae of a moth or butterfly!
Catfish
There are nearly 3,000 different species!
Centipede
There are about 3,000 documented species!
Chicken
First domesticated more than 10,000 years ago!
Cicada
Cicadas have one of the longest insect lifespans
Cinereous Vulture
This vulture can fly at great heights. At least one was found a few thousand feet from the top of Mount Everest.
Clouded Leopard
Has canines that can be two inches long!
Cockroach
Dated to be around 300 million years old!
Codling Moth
Pupae are able to undergo diapause to survive poor fruit yield years and winter.
Common Buzzard
The most common raptor in the UK!
Common Furniture Beetle
The common furniture beetle feeds exclusively on wood
Common Green Magpie
Magpies are aggressive when threatened, often “dive-bombing” at intruders
Common House Spider
House spiders have the ability to eat most insects in a home.
Common Raven
A group of ravens is called an unkindness or a conspiracy.
Cormorant
They can fly 35 mph and dive 150 feet below water.
Cosmic Caterpillar
Cosmic caterpillars have spots on their back that look like eyes to scare off predators.
Cow
There are nearly 1.5 billion worldwide!
Crab
There are 93 different crab groups
Crab Spider
Crab Spiders can mimic ants or bird droppings
Crane
Many are critically endangered species!
Cricket
Male crickets can produce sounds by rubbing their wings together
Crocodile
Have changed little in 200 million years!
Crow
A group of these birds is called a Murder.
Danios
These fish make a popular choice for aquarium hobbyists due to their hardy nature.
Deer
There are around 40 different species!
Desert Locust
Solitary locusts are grey while gregarious locusts are yellow with stripes.
Dhole
Only 2,000 left in the wild!
Dog
First domesticated in South-East Asia!
Dog Tick
Dog ticks feed on dogs and other mammals
Donkey
First domesticated 5,000 years ago!
Dragonfly
It's larvae are carnivorous!
Duck
Rows of tiny plates line their teeth!
Dung Beetle
The dung beetle can push objects many times its own weight
Eagle
Has exceptional eyesight!
Earthworm
They are hermaphrodites, which means they have male and female organs
Earwig
There are nearly 2,000 different species!
Eel
Eels can be a mere few inches long to 13 feet!
Elephant
Spends around 22 hours a day eating!
European Goldfinch
They are frequent visitors to backyard feeders, especially those containing niger seeds.
Falcon
The fastest creatures on the planet!
False Widow Spider
False spiders actually prey on black widow spiders and other hazardous spiders
Fire-Bellied Toad
Found across mainland Europe and Asia!
Firefly
The firefly produces some of the most efficient light in the world
Flea
Adult fleas can jump up to 7 inches in the air
Fly
There are more than 240,000 different species!
Flying Squirrel
Can glide up to 90 meters!
Fox
Only 12 species are considered "true foxes"
Frog
There are around 7,000 different species!
Fruit Bat
Among the largest bats in the world
Fruit Fly
Fruit flies are among the most common research animals in the world
Gazelle
Named for the Arabic word for love poems
Gecko
There are thought to be over 2,000 species!
Gerbil
Originally known as the Desert Rat!
German Cockroach
The most common type of urban roach
Glass Lizard
Can grow up to 4ft long!
Glowworm
Found inhabiting dense woodland and caves!
Gnat
Males form large mating swarms at dusk
Goat
Most closely related to the Sheep!
Goldcrest
The goldcrest never starts moving and needs to consume for most of the day to survive. Therefore, in the colder months, it's best that eat 90% a day.
Golden Eagle
Their calls sound like high-pitched screams, but they are quiet most of the time.
Golden Oriole
Migrates between Europe and Asia!
Goose
There are 29 different species!
Grasshopper
There are 11,000 known species!
Green Bee-Eater
Mainly eats honeybees!
Griffon Vulture
Can spot a dead animal from thousands of feet away
Gypsy Moth
One of the most invasive species in the world
Hamster
Able to run as quickly backwards as forwards!
Hare
Can reach speeds of over 50 mph!
Hawk Moth Caterpillar
Many hawk moth caterpillars eat toxins from plants, but don’t sequester them the way milkweed butterflies do. Most toxins are excreted.
Hedgehog
Thought to be one of the oldest mammals on Earth!
Heron
Inhabits wetlands around the world!
Honey Bee
There are only 8 recognized species!
Hoopoe
Stunning bird with a stinky way to deter predators!
Horse
Has evolved over 50 million years!
Horsefly
Horseflies have been seen performing Immelmann turns, much like fighter jets.
Housefly
The fly has no teeth
Human
Thought to have orignated 200,000 years ago!
Huntsman Spider
Some huntsman spiders have an interesting way of moving around. Some cartwheel while others do handsprings or backflips.
Ibis
Found in swamps, marshes and wetlands!
Indian Cobra
One of the Big Four.
Indian Elephant
Found throughout south-east Asia!
Indian python
Kaa from Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book was an Indian Python.
Insects
There are an estimated 30 million species!
Jacana
The jacana has the ability to swim underwater
Jackal
Can maintain speeds of 16 km/h!
Jerboa
Tiny rodent with a kangaroo-like jump!
Jumping Spider
Some can jump 50 times the length of their bodies
King Cobra
They are the longest venomous snake in the world.
Kingfisher
Inhabits wetlands and woodlands worldwide!
Ladybug
There are more than 5,000 species worldwide!
Leech
Has 10 pairs of eyes!
Leopard Cat
There are 11 different species!
Liger
The offspring of a lion and tiger parents!
Lizard
There are around 5,000 different species!
Locust
Each locust can eat its weight in plants each day.
Long-Eared Owl
Ear tufts make it look bigger!
Long-Tailed Tit
Often hangs upside down while feeding!
Magpie
They are found across Europe, Asia and Africa!
Marmot
A marmot spends 80% of its life below ground
Masked Palm Civet
Found throughout Asia, India and China!
Mayfly
There are 2,500 known species worldwide!
Mealybug
They have a symbiotic relationship with ants.
Merganser
They line their nests with their feathers
Millipede
Some species have a poisonous bite!
Mole
Primarily hunts and feeds on Earthworms!
Mole Cricket
Adult Mole crickets may fly as far as 5 miles during mating season and are active most of the year.
Mongoose
Range in size from just 1 to 3 foot!
Mongrel
Has characteristics of two or more breeds!
Monitor Lizard
Some species are thought to carry a weak venom!
Monkey
There are around 260 known species!
Monocled Cobra
The monocled cobra is responsible for the highest fatality rate of any snake in all of Thailand.
Moorhen
Feeds on aquatic insects and water-spiders!
Mosquito
Only the female mosquito actually sucks blood
Moth
There are 250,000 different species!
Mouse
Found on every continent on Earth!
Mule
The offspring of a horse and donkey parents!
Muntjac
The muntjac is the smallest type of deer in the world
Musk Deer
The glands of a musk deer can sell for up to $45,000 on the black market.
Neanderthal
Roamed Asia and Europe for around 100,000 years!
Nematode
Nematodes range in size from 1/10 of an inch to 28 feet long
Newt
Able to regrow lost or damaged limbs!
Nightingale
Named more than 1,000 years ago!
No See Ums
There are more than 5,000 species.
Orb Weaver
Females are about four times the size of males
Osprey
They reuse nesting sites for 70 years!
Otter
There are 13 different species worldwide
Owl
The owl can rotate its head some 270 degrees
Pangolin
Bad eyesight, but great sense of smell
Parrot
Can live for up to 100 years!
Peregrine Falcon
Fastest animal on Earth
Pheasant
Females lay between 8 and 12 eggs per clutch!
Pig
Thought to have been domesticated in 9,000 BC!
Pigeon
They can find their way back to their nests from up to 1300 miles away.
Pika
Found in mountainous regions and rocky areas
Pit Viper
Pit vipers's fangs fold up into their mouths when they don't need them.
Pond Skater
There are 500 different species!
Porcupine
There are 30 different species worldwide!
Praying Mantis
The mantis can turn its head 180 degrees.
Quail
Inhabits woodland and forest areas worldwide!
Rabbit
There are more than 300 different species!
Rat
Omnivores that eat anything!
Rat Snakes
Rat snakes are constrictors from the Colubridae family of snakes.
Rhesus Macaque
Rhesus Macaques are the most widely distributed primate in terms of geographic diversity
Rhinoceros
It's horns are made from keratin!
River Turtle
Inhabits freshwater habitats around the world!
Robin
There are more than 45 species in Australia alone!
Rodents
The capybara, the world’s largest rodent, likes to be in and around bodies of water. Because of this, the Catholic Church in South America decided that it was a fish, and people were allowed to eat it during Lent and First Fridays.
Rooster
Will mate with the entire flock!
Russel’s Viper
A Russel's viper strike is so forceful it can lift its entire body off the ground.
Sable Ferret
Ferrets were used during the Revolutionary War to keep down the rat population.
Salamander
There are more than 700 different species!
Sambar
Male sambars will compete for mates by clashing together with their antlers
Scorpion
There are around 2,000 known species!
Sea Eagle
The sea eagle tends to mate for life with a single partner
Seahorse
Males give birth to up to 1,000 offspring!
Sheep
Around 35 million in the English countryside!
Short-Eared Owl
The short-eared owl is one of the most widespread owl species in the world, covering five continents.
Shrew
The spinal column of the shrew Scutisorex somereni is so strong and reinforced that it can support the weight of an adult human.
Shrimp
There are 2,000 different species worldwide!
Skink Lizard
Some skinks lay eggs in some habitats while giving birth to skinklets in other habitats.
Slow Worm
Found widely throughout British gardens!
Slug
They glide around on one foot, which is aided by the slime they produce
Smokybrown Cockroach
Has up to 45 eggs per egg case
Snail
There are nearly 1,000 different species!
Snake
There are around 4,000 known species worldwide
Sparrow
There are 140 different species!
Spider Wasp
They prey on spiders to feed their larvae or they parasitize other spider wasps.
Squirrel
Small rodents found in woodlands worldwide!
Stick Insect
There are more than 3,000 different species!
Stoat
Average adults weigh about 200 grams!
Stork
They can’t sing like other birds.
Swan
Populations have been affected by pollution!
Takin
The takin can leap some 6 feet through the air
Tarantula Hawk
Tarantula hawks are excellent pollinators, especially for milkweed.
Termite
Their mounds can be up to 9 meters tall!
Thrush
The American robin is called the robin because its red breast reminded European settlers of the robin back in the old country.
Tibetan Fox
Tibetan foxes are not territorial and will share a hunting ground with other mated pairs.
Tick
They inject hosts with a chemical that stops them from feeling the pain of the bite
Tiger
The largest feline in the world!
Tiger Beetle
The adult tiger beetle is one of the fastest land insects in the world
Tokay Gecko
The Tokay gecko gets its onomatopoeic name from its "To-kay!" barking call.
Tortoise
Can live until they are more than 150 years old!
Tree Frog
Found in warmer jungles and forests!
Turtles
Some species of aquatic turtles can get up to 70 percent of their oxygen through their butt.
Vinegaroon
Vinegaroons can spray 19 times before the glands are depleted
Viper
Vipers are one of the most widespread groups of snakes and inhabit most
Vulture
There are 30 different species worldwide!
Wasp
There are around 75,000 recognised species!
Water Buffalo
Has been domesticated for thousands of years!
Water Dragon
Spends most of it's time in the trees!
Weasel
The smallest carnivorous mammal in the world!
White Ferret / Albino Ferrets
There are two different types of white ferrets!
White Tiger
None have been seen in the wild for 50 years!
Wild Boar
Males have a top tusk to sharpen the bottom one!
Wolf
Thought to date back more than 300,000 years!
Wolf Spider
Carnivorous arachnid that hunts its prey.
Woodlouse
This animal can roll up into a ball
Woodlouse Spider
Unlike most spiders, woodlouse spiders don’t build a web.
Woodpecker
There are 200 different species!
Worm
Doesn’t have eyes.
Yak
Yaks can live at altitudes up to 20,000 feet--the highest of any land-dwelling mammal.
Zebu
There are around 75 different species!
Bhutanese Animals List
- Admiral Butterfly
- Ant
- Antelope
- Armyworm
- Asian Palm Civet
- Atlas Moth
- Aurochs
- Avocet
- Banana Spider
- Barb
- Barn Owl
- Barn Swallow
- Bat
- Bear
- Bed Bugs
- Bee
- Beetle
- Bird
- Biscuit Beetle
- Black Widow Spider
- Brazilian Treehopper
- Brown Dog Tick
- Bumblebee
- Butterfly
- Caecilian
- Camel Cricket
- Carpenter Ant
- Cashmere Goat
- Cat
- Caterpillar
- Catfish
- Centipede
- Chicken
- Cicada
- Cinereous Vulture
- Clouded Leopard
- Cockroach
- Codling Moth
- Common Buzzard
- Common Furniture Beetle
- Common Green Magpie
- Common House Spider
- Common Raven
- Cormorant
- Cosmic Caterpillar
- Cow
- Crab
- Crab Spider
- Crane
- Cricket
- Crocodile
- Crow
- Cuckoo
- Danios
- Deer
- Desert Locust
- Dhole
- Dog
- Dog Tick
- Donkey
- Dormouse
- Dragonfly
- Duck
- Dung Beetle
- Eagle
- Earthworm
- Earwig
- Eel
- Elephant
- European Goldfinch
- Falcon
- False Widow Spider
- Fire-Bellied Toad
- Firefly
- Flea
- Fly
- Flying Squirrel
- Fox
- Frog
- Fruit Bat
- Fruit Fly
- Gazelle
- Gecko
- Gerbil
- German Cockroach
- Glass Lizard
- Glowworm
- Gnat
- Goat
- Goldcrest
- Golden Eagle
- Golden Oriole
- Goose
- Grasshopper
- Green Bee-Eater
- Griffon Vulture
- Gypsy Moth
- Hamster
- Hare
- Hawk Moth Caterpillar
- Hedgehog
- Heron
- Honey Bee
- Hoopoe
- Horse
- Horsefly
- Housefly
- Human
- Huntsman Spider
- Ibis
- Indian Cobra
- Indian Elephant
- Indian python
- Insects
- Jacana
- Jackal
- Jerboa
- Jumping Spider
- King Cobra
- Kingfisher
- Ladybug
- Leech
- Leopard Cat
- Liger
- Lizard
- Locust
- Long-Eared Owl
- Long-Tailed Tit
- Magpie
- Marmot
- Masked Palm Civet
- Mayfly
- Mealybug
- Merganser
- Millipede
- Mole
- Mole Cricket
- Mongoose
- Mongrel
- Monitor Lizard
- Monkey
- Monocled Cobra
- Moorhen
- Mosquito
- Moth
- Mourning Gecko
- Mouse
- Mule
- Muntjac
- Musk Deer
- Neanderthal
- Nematode
- Newt
- Nightingale
- No See Ums
- Orb Weaver
- Osprey
- Otter
- Owl
- Ox
- Pangolin
- Parrot
- Peregrine Falcon
- Pheasant
- Pig
- Pigeon
- Pika
- Pit Viper
- Pond Skater
- Porcupine
- Praying Mantis
- Quail
- Rabbit
- Rat
- Rat Snakes
- Rhesus Macaque
- Rhinoceros
- River Turtle
- Robin
- Rodents
- Rooster
- Russel’s Viper
- Sable Ferret
- Salamander
- Sambar
- Scorpion
- Sea Eagle
- Seahorse
- Sheep
- Short-Eared Owl
- Shrew
- Shrimp
- Skink Lizard
- Slow Worm
- Slug
- Smokybrown Cockroach
- Snail
- Snake
- Sparrow
- Spider Wasp
- Squirrel
- Stick Insect
- Stoat
- Stork
- Swallowtail Butterfly
- Swan
- Takin
- Tarantula Hawk
- Termite
- Thrush
- Tibetan Fox
- Tick
- Tiger
- Tiger Beetle
- Tokay Gecko
- Tortoise
- Tree Frog
- Turtles
- Vinegaroon
- Viper
- Vulture
- Wasp
- Water Buffalo
- Water Dragon
- Weasel
- White Ferret / Albino Ferrets
- White Tiger
- Wild Boar
- Wolf
- Wolf Spider
- Woodlouse
- Woodlouse Spider
- Woodpecker
- Worm
- Yak
- Zebu
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What animals live in Bhutan?
There is an immense variety of animals that live in Bhutan. They range from the Assam forests frog, the black pond turtle, a butterfly called the mottled emigrant, the huge and beautiful Edward’s silk moth and blue mud-dauber wasps. There are also leaf and flea beetles and dragonflies.
Birds include the raven, which is Bhutan’s national bird. Others are the black-necked crane, trogons, hornbills, herons, ducks, geese and swans. Birds of prey include ospreys, eagles and vultures.
Mammals include muntjacs, barking deer and sambar. There are also red pandas, marmots and goat-antelope ungulates called gorals and serows. There are wild cats of many sizes, ranging from the Bengal tiger to the snow leopard to the housecat sized leopard cat. Also found in Bhutan are gray wolves and a unique and elusive creature called the binturong. It is a kind of weasel with a prehensile tail and is also called the bear cat.
Bigger beasts include the huge but usually docile gaur, Asian elephants, and one-horned rhinoceros.
Are there monkeys in Bhutan?
There are monkeys in Bhutan, including the golden langur, the Assamese macaque, the common gray langur, and the rhesus macaque.
Are there leopards in Bhutan?
Leopards can be found in Bhutan. These include the common leopard, which is extinct in many other parts of Asia. The leopard most likely seen in Bhutan is the Indian leopard, which is a subspecies that’s found on the Indian subcontinent and the southern part of Tibet. Other “leopards” are the clouded leopard and the leopard cat. The beautiful and elusive snow leopard is also a resident of Bhutan.
How many animals are there in Bhutan?
There must be hundreds of thousands of creatures in Bhutan that belong to 770 species of birds, 220 species of even-toed ungulates, including the takin, and 260 species of carnivores, including 89 to 124 Bengal tigers. There is also at least one species of cetacean represented by the South Asian river dolphin, though it is endangered and may even be extinct in Bhutan. There are also several species of bats, pangolins, primates, and rodents. There are also at least 1920 species of insects, including the Bhutan blackvein butterfly. Bhutan also has 36 kinds of amphibians and 83 types of reptiles, and more of these creatures have been discovered over the past few years.
