Bhutan Biodiversity Portal awards announced

The Bhutan Biodiversity Portal has more than 57,000 biodiversity observations, including nearly 13,000 observations made with photographs. The National Biodiversity Centre would like to congratulate and acknowledge the following recipients of the Bhutan Biodiversity Portal Top Observer Awards:

• Mr. Tandin Wangchuk – 2353 observations
• Mr. Phuentsho – 1982 observations

Dasho Paljor J. Dorji, Advisor to the National Environment Commission, presented award certificates to our winners during International Biodiversity Day celebrations in Thimphu on 22 May 2018. As our Top Observers are based in central and eastern Bhutan they accepted their awards via video.

Mr. Tandin Wangchuk’s acceptance video for Bhutan Biodiversity Portal Top Observer Award

Mr.Phuentsho’s acceptance video for Bhutan Biodiversity Portal Top Observer Award

Winners of the Wild River BioBlitz

During the month of April, the National Biodiversity Centre teamed up with WWF Bhutan to run the Wild River BioBlitz. The BioBlitz generated an impressive 1124 observations (compared with 131 observations during the same period last year!).

We are pleased to announce the prize winners.

Best find – Rarest/most unusual observation

1. Mr. Jigme Wangchuk (Prize: Set of five fabulous Bhutan invertebrate field guides, WWF cap)

Black flies pupa stage     Photo credit: Mr. Jigme Wangchuk

2. Mr. Tshering Tobgay (Prize: Kaadoo: Explore Bhutan Wilderness, WWF cap)

Asian Small-clawed otter.    Photo credit:Mr. Tshering Tobgay

Best photograph

1. Mr. Phuntsho Wangdi (Prize: Set of five fabulous Bhutan invertebrate field guides, WWF cap)

Ruddy Shelduck.   Photo credit: Mr. Phuntsho Wangdi

2. Mr. Phuentsho (Prize: Kaadoo: Explore Bhutan Wilderness, WWF cap)

Himalayan Toad.   Photo credit: Mr. Phuentsho

Champion observer – Most number of observations submitted

1. Mr. Seangyeal Chhopheal (Prize: Set of five fabulous Bhutan invertebrate field guides, WWF cap)
Mr. Seangyeal Chhopheal (view his profile here) uploaded 282 observations during the Wild River BioBlitz.

2. Mr. Dorji Duba (Prize: Kaadoo: Explore Bhutan Wilderness, WWF cap)
Mr. Dorji Duba (view his profile here) submitted an impressive 405 observations during April 2018, which was nearly one-third of all observations submitted during the Wild River BioBlitz.

One of Mr. Dorji Duba’s cheeky “aquatic biodiversity” snaps of a Barking deer (also called a Northern Red Muntjac), submitted as part of the Wild River BioBlitz.

Interview with Wild River BioBlitz Champion Observer, Mr. Dorji Duba

Where do you live?
I live in Tashilling, Tshangkha, Trongsa

Where do you work?
I am a Senior Forester with the Jigme Singye Wangchuk National Park, Trongsa.

What motivated you to post so many observations to the BBP?
Just capturing the images of wildlife and storing them in your computer and camera is not enough. Share your findings and let your friends and people around the world see and learn about what they have never seen or come across before.

When did you start making observations?
My interest began when I started my life as a forester in 1999, but I couldn’t afford a camera. My dream of buying a camera came true only in September 2012. Then I started to capture everything I came across which was numerous as I always go to the field for camera trapping.

What was your most favorite or memorable observation and why?
My most favorite or memorable observation was of the endangered Himalayan musk deer captured during the period when I was trying to explore Black Mountain. I visited and tried many years back but did not came across that animal. During my second attempt only I could see it. But the capture was not easy. It took nearly one hour as it was summer and everybody knows how the weather conditions are at high altitude during that season.

What inspires you in life?
The beauty of nature.