Told in the hills
Where two wild worlds meet above Gangtok
Fambong Lho sits at a meeting point of two great zones of wildlife. Ecologists divide the world's animals into realms, and the eastern Himalaya is where the Palearctic realm of the north meets the Indomalayan realm of tropical Asia. On these slopes you find species from both. Low down, the forest is warm and broadleaf; higher up, it turns to oak, rhododendron, fir and subalpine scrub near Tinjure. The sanctuary covers about 51 km² of that gradient.
That mix is why birders come. The sanctuary's list includes hill partridge, satyr tragopan, fire-tailed myzornis, scaly laughingthrush and red-headed bullfinch, and the rufous-headed hornbill has been recorded here. Among mammals, barking deer, yellow-throated marten and red panda are reported, with musk deer and red fox at higher levels. Himalayan striped squirrels and Royle's pikas are the animals you are most likely to see. Spring, when birds call and breed, is the best time to look and listen.
The forest has also had hard times. On 4 February 2017 a large fire broke out on the Tinjure ridge, and it took several days and help from helicopters to put it out. Dry winters and strong winds raise the fire risk on these slopes, which is one reason the Forest Department controls entry. As a visitor, never light fires, never smoke on the trails, and carry out every scrap of rubbish.
Pinned to the board
Did you know
Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary covers about 51 km² and is contiguous with Khangchendzonga National Park.
The sanctuary's highest point is Tinjure, at about 2,749 m, and its lowest parts lie at about 1,524 m.
The red panda, recorded in Fambong Lho, is the state animal of Sikkim.
