International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN: 2319-7064 SJIF (2019): 7.583 Volume 10 Issue 2, February 2021 www.ijsr.net Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY An Updated Checklist of Globally Threatened Species in Bhutan as Listed in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Manita 1 , Tej Kumar Nepal 2 1 Student, Department of Arts & Humanities, Sherubtse College, Royal University of Bhutan 2 Student, School of Ecology and Environment Studies, Nalanda University, Rajgir, Bihar, India Corresponding author: tejkumarnepal97[at]gmail.com Abstract: Bhutan lies to the East of Himalaya and it hosts around 11,248 species in all taxa. Bhutan’s lush and green forest covers 71 percent of land which comes under the five National Parks, four Wildlife Sanctuaries, 1 Strict Nature Reserve, Community Forests and biological corridors connecting different protected areas. More than half (51.44 percent) is protected by law and activities are restricted under certain circumstances. It is home to Takin (Budorcastaxicolorwhitei), White-bellied Heron (Ardeainsignis), Black-necked Crane (Grusnigricollis), Red Panda (Ailurusfulgens), Great Hornbill (Bucerosbicornis) and Chinese Pangolin (Manispentadactyla) that are globally threatened.Bhutan contributed around 23 new species between 2017 and 2020 which were new to science, and Bhutan’s biodiversity holds immense opportunities for researchers and environmental scientists as its biodiversity is in early stage of discovery.To date, Bhutan records 1 species as Extinct (EX), 1 species as Extinct in the Wild (EW) and 134 species as Vulnerable (VU), Endangered (EN) and Critically Endangered (CR) under International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. This paper aims to report a checklist of globally threatened species listed in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species from Bhutan. The paper also lists down the new species that were discovered in Bhutan since 2017. More researchers are needed to discover new species from Bhutan’s rich and lush forest. Keywords: Threatened, Conservation, Biodiversity 1. Introduction Bhutan, a landlocked kingdom between China and India, championed the conservation of environment before it joined any of the world bodies and conventions [22]. Bhutan lies in the Eastern Himalaya [3], with elevation ranging from 97 – 7570 meters above sea level (masl) [29]. The Eastern Himalaya range is one of the richest biodiversity hotspots covering 750,000 sq. km.[1] land area covering the Indian state of Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and West Bengal, Bhutan, Nepal, northern Myanmar and southeast Tibet (China)[26]. Bhutan is part of eight ecoregions, twenty-three important bird areas, important plant areas and wetlands with three Ramsar areas – Phobjikha, Khothokha and Bumdeling[17] [21].The constitution of the Royal Kingdom of Bhutan mandates to keep 60 percent of its land under forest cover for all time to come[28], the current land under forest cover is 71 percent[5]. More than half (51.44 percent) of the land is protected under National Parks (5), Wildlife Sanctuaries (4), Strict Nature Reserve (1), and biological corridors connecting different protected areas[6]. The country currently hosts 11,248 species within all taxa (figure 1) including the Black-necked Crane (Grusnigricollis), Great Hornbill (Bucerosbicornis), Rufous- necked Hornbill (Acerosnipalensis), White-bellied Heron (Ardeainsignis), Snow Leopard (Pantherauncia), Takin (Budorcastaxicolorwhitei), Chinese Pangolin (Manispentadactyla), Bhutan Swallowtail (Bhutanitisludlowi) and Blue Poppy (Meconopsisbhutanica) that are globally threatened[20] [21]. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) was founded in 1948 to work in the field of natural resources and biodiversity conservation[25].The IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species was established in 1964and it is critical indicator of the health of biodiversity [31]. It is predicted that there are around 8.7 million species within all kingdom [19], where 14 percent species on land and 9 percent species in the ocean are described or documented[18]. 86 percent species on land and 91 percent species in the ocean await discovery and documentation[23]. Currently, more than 120,000 species is documented by IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, with more than 32,000 species threatened with extinction including 14 percent of birds, 41 percent of amphibians, 33 percent of reef building corals, 34 percent of conifers and 26 percent mammals [4]. Bhutan’s documentation of biological diversity is at early stage. Between 2009 and 2017, Bhutan recorded 16 plants [31], 4 snails [7], 1 dragonfly [15], 3 fishes [10], 2 beetles, 1 stonefly, 4 moths and 2 aphids that were new record for science [20]. Moreover Bhutan also recorded 566 new species including 5 birds, 35 snails and slugs, 59 dragonflies and damselflies, 65 bees and wasps, 1 trueflies, 44 amphibians and reptiles, 101 plants, 108 fishes, 4 beetles, 14 crabs, 4 butterflies, 119 moths, 5 cicadas, and 2 bryophytes in the same years [11]. The new species record for Bhutan has occurred at a rate of 62 species per year (62.88%). Many of the species are not yet discovered and documented in Bhutan, there is a need for much research to document the undiscovered species (to science and Bhutan) and to understand species number and diversity [24] [21]. The study aims to study the threatened species of Bhutan listed in IUCN Red List from numerous published papers and books. There were many published paper on individual Paper ID: SR21217104713 DOI: 10.21275/SR21217104713 1640