Jomotsangkha Wildlife Sanctuary (JWS) earlier known by the name Khaling Wildlife Sanctuary was notified in 1993. The sanctuary has an area of 334.73sq.km. It is located in southeastern part of Bhutan under Samdrup Jongkhar district. The sanctuary covers the administrative blocks of Phuntshothang, Pemathang, Samrang, Langchenphug, and Serthig; bordered by Assam to the south, Nyera Amachhu to the west, Serthig geog to the north and Arunachal Pradesh to the east. The altitude of the sanctuary ranges from 200masl to 2300masl which consist of Sub-tropical Forest, Cool Broadleaved Forest, Warm Broadleaved forest, few grassland along the southern fringes.
The sanctuary is one of the bio-diversity hotspot; it lies in the Indo-Malayan realm. It is known for habitat of one of the critically endangered species such as Pygmy Hog and Hispid Hare. Also sanctuary harbors some of the important wildlife species such as Asiatic Elephant, Common Leopard, Himalayan Black Bear, Gaur, Bengal Tiger, Chinese Pangolin, and 4 types of small cats (Asiatic Golden Cat, Marbled Cat, Clouded Leopard, Leopard Cat) and four types of Hornbills ( Great Hornbill, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Wrinkled Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill).
Till date no study was conducted on presence/absence of the critically endangered species of Pygmy Hog and Hispid Hare beside the questionnaire survey in 2014 but the rest of the species were confirmed through camera trapped images.
Mandates:
- Enforcement of FNCA 1995, and FNCR 2000 and FNCR 2006
- Management of Forest Resources
- Conduct research/survey and monitoring of Flora and Fauna
- Implementation of planned target activities of management working plan
- Foster prompt service delivery
- Collaborate among relevant stakeholders to implement Conservation Development Program (CDP).
