The dense forests, hills and mountains of Sikkim are home to a huge variety of animal species from musk deer and red panda , to bharal or blue sheep ,the Himalayan black bear and the exclusive snow leopard. Due to enchroachments ,and climate change ,many of these are endangered and threatened. The lowland forests of Sikkim are home to Sikkim's largest reptile Burmese python ,house geckos, the Himalayan crestless porcupine , the Chinese pangolian ,and barking deer.Several species of birds can also be found here -the great pied hornbill locally called 'hongraio', chestnut-breasted partridge, the red junglefowl and more.

Sub-tropicals regions are home to the red panda, red fox vulpes , the golden jackel,leopards, Asiatic black bear,palm civets, flying squirrels, wild boars,japalura lizards,cobras,kraits abd mountain pit vipers. The gaur - one of India's largest bovids - has been seen in Pangolaka Wildilfe Sanctuary. Besides being one of the primal adventure destinations in the country, Sikkim is also ideal bird watching destination. It has more than 550 species of birdds , some of which have been declared endangered .You will find a rich diversity of butterflies too- about half the 1,400 butterfly species recorded in India are found here including the magnificient, but endangered Kaiser-i-Hind ,the Yellow Gorgon and the Bhutan glory.You can spot them in the four sanctuaries in Sikkim and at the Khangchendzonga National Park.

Sikkim's exceptional bio-diverse ladnscape supports over 22 restricted-range bird species, including atleast 19 species that are endemic to the region and bird species that are not found anywhere else in the world.Its unique position on the map means that, despite its small size,Sikkim,with over 550 species, has a bird list that is almost as diverse as that of Bhutan or Nepal.Due to the progressive conservation policies of the goverment that are supported by the highly benign Buddhist religious beliefs od locals ,Sikkim has a very high percentage of land under official protection as protected areas (PA) or Important Bird Areas (IBA). The state provides legal protection to critical birds habitats through a network of 22 IBAs and almost and equal number of PAs.