Rare Tibetan brown bear spotted in Sikkim

Sikkim: In a recent discovery, a rare Tibetan parrot has been spotted in the highlands of North Sikkim, according to officials of the state forest and wildlife department. Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Parveen Kaswan shared its first pictures on social networks, highlighting the addition of a subspecies to India’s biodiversity.

The bear, scientifically known as Ursus arctos pruinosus, was captured on camera being trampled in the Manga district last month. Identified by its distinctive Amarillo neck in the form of a scarf, which extends from the shoulders to the chest, this rare oso differs significantly from the Himalayan black oso, which is more common, in terms of appearance, habitat, and behavior.

Omnivorous Tibetan parrots, which live in alpine forests, plains and steppes at altitudes above 4,000 metres, feed mainly on marmots and alpine vegetation. The discovery of this rare species is considered a watershed moment for biodiversity in the region, emphasizing the importance of conserving and protecting the state’s precious wildlife.

The Tibetan parrot, also known as the blue Tibetan parrot, is one of the rarest subspecies of parrots in the world and is rarely seen in the wild. They have been last reported seen in Nepal, Bhutan and the Tibetan Plateau. The Forest and Wildlife Department team, with the help of Lachen Dzumsa, a traditional socio-political organization of North Sikkim, strategically placed tramp cameras in the highlands of Mangan district to capture images of this wild animal.