Toorsa Strict Nature Reserve lies between 27° 34’ and 27°11’ latitude and 88°54’ and 89°10 ’ longitude. It is located in the western Bhutan, bordering the Indian state of Sikkim to its west. On the north side, it forms a contiguous natural habitat of alpine meadows with Tibet China region. It is connected to Jigme Dorji National Park to its north-east part by the TSNR-JDNP Bio-logical Corridor. The altitude ranges from 1400masl to over 5000masl.

Toorsa Strict Nature Reserve which spans an area of 609.51 km2, is the only strict nature reserve among the ten protected areas in the country and lies mostly in Haa dzongkhag with a very small area spreading south into Samtse dzongkhag in western Bhutan. At the same time, this is the only protected area in Bhutan without permanent human settlements, except for few yak herding communities. It protects the western most variant of temperate forests in the country ranging from broadleaf forests to alpine meadows in the north. Being virtually uninhabited, the Reserve has one of the most pristine temperate forests and alpine vegetation in the entire Himalayas.

•  Reserve forms part of the Sacred Himalayan Landscape (SHL) building links with the three major trans-boundary conservation areas in China, India and Bhutan. It also falls within Kangchenjunga Landscape linking further to the Bhutan Biological Conservation Complex that has the natural connectivity to rest of the Protected Areas of Bhutan. The whole trans-boundary landscape is significant for the conservation of snow leopard.
• The Reserve protects the catchment areas of two major river system of Bhutan viz. Amochhu and Wangchhu
• Reserve is also known for harboring several Endemic plant species.
• Have several Culture and historic sites within Reserve areas such as Nobtshonapata Lake, Chunduegang, Chaladophu, story of origin of Nublang (Native cattle breed) and Rem (Gone) Narten (relic) was said to be treasured from Nobtshonapata.

 

As per the recent studies conducted in the Reserve, about 427 species of plants were indentified. Among them, there were 137 species of trees, 68 shrub species and 182 herb species. This included 5 weed species, 10 orchid species, 8 grass species and 6 bamboo species and 10 fern species belonging to 115 families.

 The park has numerous Schedule I Plants which are protected under the Forest and Nature Conservation Act of 1995. This include Cordyceps sinensis, Snow Down Lily, Blue Poppy, Ginseng and the recently included Rhuem nobile (local : Chhukar metog). in the revised list for protection were recorded from the surveys.

The are four endemic species of plants namely Viola bhutanica, Bhutanthera himalayana, Meconopsis superba (White Poppy) and Bryocarpum himalaicum in the reserve.

Oher species of high timber value for construction and firewood, along with many medicinal, ornamental and horticulture value were also recorded.

Currently there are 29 species of mammals recorded in the area. This includes 8 species listed in the schedule I of Forest and Nature Conservation Act of Bhutan, 1995, 10 species are listed in Appendix I, 3 Appendix I/II species, 2 Appendix II species, 3 Appendix III species of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITIES), and 2 globally endangered and 7 in vulnerable category as recognized in the Red List of Threatened Species 2010 of the World Conservation Union (IUCN).

This includes the most charismatic and elusive Snow leopard, Clouded leopard, Red panda and others like the; Asiatic black Bear, Golden cat, Leopard, Leopard Cat, Musk deer, Serow, Takin, Wild dog and Assamese macaque. These include several species which can be considered as ‘flagship’ species for TSNR, such as Snow leopard in the alpine ecosystem, Common Leopard in the forest ecosystem, red panda in the bamboo forest.

While the reserve is an excellent habitat for the tigers, there are no concrete evidence to prove the existence of tigers. Howeover, evidence of the presence of Wolly Hare, which is a threatened species, has been found in the reserve.

Mammals of Toorsa Nature Reserve

 Bird species

Among the 161 species of birds recorded, includes 2 species listed in schedule 1 of the Forest & Nature Conservation Act of Bhutan, 1995 ; the Himalayan Monal and Rufous necked hornbill; one restricted range species (Hoary-throated Barwing) and one significant rare bird species (Tibetan Snowcock). In addition 1 species is listed in Appendix I/II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and in vulnerable category as recognized in the Red List of Threatened Species 2010 of the World Conservation Union (IUCN).

Birds of TSNR

 Butterfly species