The
diversity in the plant world is complemented by a similar variety in the animal
kingdom. As if this wasn't enough 600 species of butterflies and 600 species
of birds adorn the forest with colour and song. Among the more commonly found
animals in the alpine zone are yaks. They are domesticated and reared in North
Sikkim mainly for their economic productiveness. Yak milk is used to make butter
'churpi' the wool comes in handy as raw material for carpets and blankets. The
musk deer, found in the upper temperate regions, is today a species in the endangered
list.. A common denizen of Sikkim is the muntjac, or the barking deer. It is
so called because of the barking noise it makes when alarmed.
Among the more exotic mammals is the Red Panda which lives mostly on treetops.
It is found at altitudes ranging from 6,000 to 12,000 feet. The snow leopard
is an almost mythical animal. It has rarely been sighted and to date, only
two field zoologists have succeeded in photographing this elusive animal in
its habitat which can vary from 5,000 feet to as high as 18,000 feet. Blue
sheep, flying squirrels, binturong, tahrs, marmots and mush deer are at home
in this cool blanket of green.
Most of this beautiful and virgin area comes under the Kanchenjunga National
Park. Sikkim also has large cardamom, orange and tea plantations. The rivers
of Sikkim have trout, salmon and carp. Fishing is allowed with a permit.
