Myanmar (also known formerly as Burma) is a mid-sized country in Southeast Asia that gained its independence from British rule in 1948. It is bordered by India, Bangladesh, China, Laos, Thailand, and the Indian Ocean. Across its vast tropical rainforests, wetlands, mountains, plains, and coastlines, the country is considered to be an immense biodiversity hotspot, but much of its unique wildlife is now in danger of being lost to human activity.
The Official National Animal of Myanmar
Both the Indochinese tiger and the grey peacock pheasant are on the list of national symbols. The endangered green peafowl was once a symbol of the monarchy and still appears throughout the country today.
Where to Find the Top Wild Animals in Myanmar
Myanmar has dozens of national parks scattered throughout its diverse ecosystems. The Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park, located in the northwest region of Sagaing, features temperate coniferous, broadleaf, and mixed forests. Some of its residents include brown bears, barking deer, clouded leopards, civets, elephants, and other mammals. The Hlawga Park in the southeast region of Yangon features a diverse array of deer, pangolins, pythons, storks, and other types of birds. It also has a mini-zoo to delight visitors with tigers, leopards, bears, and crocodiles.
The Lampi Island Marine National Park, located in the country’s far south just off the coast of the Malay Peninsula, is a good spot to find whales, dolphins, dugongs, and sea turtles. It also has plenty of reptiles, amphibians, and the rare Sunda pangolin. Other excellent parks to visit are the Loimwe National Park, Mount Victoria National Park, Popa Mountain National Park, and Tanintharyi National Park.
The Most Dangerous Animals in Myanmar Today
Like few other places on the planet, Myanmar is a hotspot of deadly snakes. Out of the 150 or so snake species in Myanmar, around 40 of them are venomous. Thousands of people are bitten every year, and about 8% of them die, compared to only 4% elsewhere. This has made it dangerous to wander alone in some rural areas of the country.
- Russell’s Viper – Only found in the western part of the country, Russell’s Viper is nevertheless highly dangerous. The venom from its bite can cause pain, swelling, and bleeding, which may persist for days or weeks. Unless the venom is treated quickly, kidney, respiratory, or heart failure can occur in a minority of cases.
- King Cobra – As the world’s longest venomous snake, the king cobra has long been feared and respected throughout Southeast Asia. The dangerous toxin attacks the central nervous system, resulting in pain, blurred vision, vertigo, and even paralysis. Death can sometimes follow within an hour of a bite.
- Indochinese Spitting Cobra – Endemic to the eastern part of the country, this snake has the ability to spit venom at its target, causing serious pain and possible blindness. If that fails, then it can inject venom directly into its victim, causing pain, swelling, tissue death, and even paralysis. In rare instances, death can occur.
- Banded Krait – Identified by the alternating bands of yellow and black rings, this species can deliver a dangerous neurotoxin that causes vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and dizziness. Death can occur in a small number of cases.
- Saltwater Crocodile – As one of the largest and most aggressive crocodiles in the world, this species will often attack and kill people who accidentally wander into its territory.
Endangered Animals in Myanmar
As deforestation has transformed its environment and poaching runs rampant, Myanmar has struggled to protect what remains of its diverse wildlife. Many of its unique animals are now in danger of extinction. These include some of the most well-known mammals on the planet.
- Asian Elephant – One of the largest land animals in the world, the Asian elephant is now being threatened by habitat loss, population fragmentation, and the illegal poaching of its ivory tusks.
- Indochinese Tiger – This subspecies of the tiger, found exclusively in Southeast Asia, is in danger of extinction from habitat loss and hunting. It is believed that less than a hundred remain in Myanmar and only about 350 of them remain in total.
- Myanmar Snub-Nosed Monkey – First recognized as an independent species in 2011, this arboreal primate, with its black fur, long tail, and short nose, is native to the country’s northern forests. But logging and hunting have reduced population numbers to only a few hundred individuals.
- Red Panda – This small carnivorous mammal, which looks like a cross between a bear and fox, is native to the country’s north. It is threatened by deforestation and competition with livestock for land.
- Eld’s Deer – This species was once quite common throughout the grasslands of Southeast Asia. But after the 1950s, overhunting caused populations to fall by some 90%.
- Fishing Cat – Endemic to the swamps and marshlands near the delta of the Ayeyarwady River, the fishing cat is a medium-sized wild feline, threatened by the loss of wetlands.
- Spoon-billed Sandpiper – This small wading bird breeds in Russia and flies south toward Southeast Asia for the winter. But the route along the way has been completely disrupted by habitat loss and industrialization. They are also hunted to death upon arriving in Southeast Asia.
- White-rumped Vulture – This scavenging vulture was once widespread across Southeast Asia. But a decline in prey population and cases of accidental poisoning from medications have caused it to almost completely disappear.