Wildlife and birds · Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary
Looking for red panda and blood pheasant
A slow, quiet wildlife walk into Maenam's upper bamboo and fir forest with a naturalist, searching for signs of red panda and the blood pheasant, Sikkim's state bird. Sightings are never guaranteed; the forest itself is the reward.
Photo: Sunuwargr · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The red panda, Sikkim's state animal, lives in temperate forests with dense bamboo, and Maenam's upper slopes offer that habitat. The blood pheasant, Sikkim's state bird, scratches in the leaf litter of the same forests. Both are shy, and a sighting needs silence, patience and a guide who knows where to look.
Start before dawn, climb steadily to the upper forest and then slow right down. Your naturalist will look for droppings, feeding signs and calls, scanning the trees where red pandas rest. Blood pheasants are more often seen early in the morning on the trail or in clearings, especially in winter.
Be realistic: many visitors see neither, but come away with sightings of laughingthrushes, sibias, woodpeckers and perhaps a barking deer. Wear muted colours, carry binoculars and keep group size small. Never use playback calls or try to approach animals closely.
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Questions travellers ask
Before you book
Can we see red panda in Maenam?
It is possible but rare. Red pandas live in the upper bamboo and fir forests, but are shy and often high in trees. A good naturalist improves your chances by looking for signs. Treat any sighting as a bonus rather than a promise.
What is the state bird of Sikkim?
The blood pheasant, a bird of high temperate forest with striking red and green markings on the male. It is found in Maenam's upper forests and is more often seen in winter and early morning. The state animal is the red panda.
When is the best season for wildlife in Maenam?
November to April, when foliage is thinner, trails are dry and animals may move lower in cold weather. Early morning is best. The monsoon is wet, leech-filled and poor for visibility.
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