Although snake bite envenomation is considered as a medical emergency with significant morbidity and mortality, accurate figures on snakebite envenomation remains scarce.  We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the snakebite epidemiology in Sarpang District located in the subtropical zone of southern Bhutan.  In this study, 78 snakebite cases treated in Gelephu Referral Hospital over a period of three years from 2013 to 2015 were evaluated based on the statistical record maintained by the medical administration.  Twenty-eight (35.89%) cases developed signs and symptoms of envenomation and the remaining 50 (64.01%) were found to be cases of non-venomous bites.  Forty-four males and 34 females were found to be affected by snakebites within the period.  While snakebites were observed in all age groups, the large majority (n=51, 65.38%) were in adults aged between 21 and 50 years.  Most of the venomous bites (68%) occurred during the monsoon season, particularly between May and August.  It was found that adults in the economically productive age group were the ones most affected by poisonous bites.  There is an urgent need for development and adoption of snakebite management guidelines and awareness among the vulnerable sections of the population, improvement of medical facilities in referral hospitals and rural health centres, and reduction of the morbidity and mortality associated with snakebites.

S h o r t C omm u n fi c a t fi o n S p e c fi e s d fi v e r s fi t y a n d s p a t fi a l d fi s t r fi b u t fi o n o f s n a k e s fi n J fi gm e D o r j fi N a t fi o n a l P a r k a n d a d j o fi n fi n g a r e a s , w e s t e r n B h u t a n B a l K r fi s n n a K o fi r a l a , D h a n B d r G u r u n g , P h u r b a L h e

This paper presents the results of a study conducted on the diversity and spatial distribution of amphibian fauna in two different habitat types along the elevation gradients of Mochu River valley in Jigme Dorji National Park, Bhutan.  The survey was conducted from November 2017 to February 2019.  The study aimed to assess the diversity and distribution of amphibians using an opportunistic visual encounter survey technique.  A total of 16 species of amphibians belonging to nine genera distributed among seven families were documented during the study period. The Shannon diversity index was relatively higher in the primary forest habitat than in the agro-ecosystem, however, there was no statistically significant difference of species abundance. The decreasing trend of diversity and abundance of amphibian fauna was noticed towards higher altitudinal zones.  About 56% of species were recorded in the lower sampling sites (1200–1600m) indicating more favourable climatic conditions and habitat types for amphibian assemblages at lower elevations.

This paper presents the results of a study conducted on the species composition of serpent fauna in Trashigang Territorial Forest Division (TTFD), Bhutan.  The survey was conducted from August 2019 to September 2020.  The study aimed to assess the diversity, conservation threats, and distribution of both venomous and non-venomous snakes in different habitat types using time constrained visual encounter survey technique.  A total of 34 species of snakes belonging to five families and 23 genera were recorded.  Of the total observed species, nine were identified as venomous species.  These include four species of Elapidae, four species of Viperidae, and one Colubridae.  Geographically, snakes occurred throughout the landscapes, although species composition and their geographical distribution differed notably amongst various localities.  We documented survival threats to local snakes where deliberate killing and road mortality were found to be the most common cause of death.  The increasing trend of diversity, species richness, and relative abundance of serpent fauna was noticed as the radial distance increased from urban residential areas towards less disturbed landscapes such as rural agricultural land and natural forests indicating that the habitat mosaic plays an important role in the structure and composition of the snake community.  Considering the limited information currently available on diversity and geographical distribution of the serpent fauna of the region, the present study can be considered very significant.

This study was carried out to establish the diversity and distribution of butterflies in Gidakom Forest Management Unit (GFMU), Thimphu, Bhutan.  A survey was conducted from June 2016 to July 2017 in three locations within GFMU: Jamdo, Chimithanka, and Jedekha.  A total of 90 species belonging to 52 genera and five families of butterflies were recorded.  Nymphalidae was dominant with 38 species, followed by Lycaenidae with 19, Pieridae with 15, Papilionidae with 11, and Hesperiidae with seven species.  Diversity of butterfly species was highest in farmland associated with pockets of forest cover in the lower valley, and a decreasing trend was observed towards higher elevations.  The maximum species richness (83 species) was recorded from Chimithanka between 2500m & 2900m, where agriculture is associated with patches of forest, streams, forest edges, and open scrub land.  Butterfly diversity was lowest at Jedekha above 2,900m (37 species), an area dominated by mixed conifer forest with little agriculture.

Rhacophorus is a genus of tree frogs in the family Rhacophoridae commonly referred to as parachuting or gliding frogs, distinguished by extensive digital webbing. A rare species, Rhacophorus translineatus Wu, 1977, was recorded for the first time in Bhutan. Information on morphological characters, geographical distribution, habitat and natural history notes is provided.

The King Cobra, Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor 1836), is the longest venomous snake in the world; it is globally threatened and has been categorized as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List. Herein we describe distribution, habitats, and nesting behavior of the King Cobra in Trashigang Forest Division, Bhutan. We recorded a total of 18 King Cobras during the one-year survey period. The elevational distribution was 650–2,057 m but most sightings were at lower elevations. King Cobras did not appear to prefer or avoid any particular habitat type but most records were from areas where human disturbances were at a minimum. We monitored a nest containing 37 eggs that was actively guarded by a female. This study was the first of its kind in Trashigang Forest Division and we hope that the information obtained will help formulate appropriate conservation strategies for this globally threatened species.

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