Its grasslands are home to the densest populations of Bengal tigers, Asian elephants, and one-horned rhino. Its mountains offer refuge to snow leopards, red pandas, takins, Himalayan black bears, and golden langurs, and its rivers contain the world's rarest dolphins (Gangetic). It is also one of only 2 places remaining globally where elephants, tigers, and rhinos co-exist.

Once found across the entire northern part of the Indian sub-continent, the greater one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) is the largest of all rhino species. Today, there are fewer than 2,800 left in the wild, with significant populations in Chitwan National Park in Nepal and Kaziranga National Park in India. However, many Protected Areas are surrounded by dense human populations who are encroaching on the rhino’s habitat. To conserve this species in the Eastern Himalayas, WWF is working to strengthen anti-poaching efforts and Protected Area management; create additional populations through translocations; and assist local communities to benefit economically from the presence of rhinos.

• Key Facts
• Factsheet: Asian Rhino
• Greater One-horned Rhino Conservation Action Plan
• Greater one-horned Rhino at Wikipedia

The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is considered a sacred species, revered for its role in Asian culture and religion. But with more than 20% of the world’s human population living in or near Asian elephant habitat, there are constant threats to its esteemed status. Major threats to the Asian elephant today are the loss, degradation or fragmentation of their habitat due to agriculture, infrastructure development and human settlement. It means that when elephants try to follow traditional migration corridors or find food, they may instead encounter roads, fields of crops and villages. This leads to increasing conflict between people and elephants, which can be fatal for both sides – scores of people and elephants are killed every year. Elephants in this region have also been killed for its prized tusks, that the adult males posses. In the Eastern Himalayas, WWF is working to restore and/or secure biological corridors - so that large animals such as elephants can access their migratory routes - along with community based management of human elephant conflict, and also working with partners to curb poaching of elephants.

• Key Facts
  
• Asian Elephant Factsheet
• Asian elephant at Wikipedia

The Takin is listed as a vulnerable species of goat-antelope, found in the high altitude alpine meadows of Bhutan, India, and China (>3,700m). These meadows provide rich grazing ground, and males of the species can weigh as much as 1 tonne. These high altitude habitats also provide domesticated yak herders with a vital source of feed, and in recent years herd numbers have increased, competition for space has intensified, and many areas have become overgrazed. This has led to the once species-rich alpine meadows becoming dominated by a few species of unpalatable shrubs; threatening the survival of the Takin. WWF hopes to reverse this trend by engaging local communities in natural resource management. Providing community groups with the ability to promote and adopt sustainable grazing practices; reducing grazing pressure, and increasing natural regeneration.

• Factsheet
• The Takin at Wikipedia

Eastern Himalayas comprises almost 50% of red panda’s (Ailurus fulgens) habtiat, and it is iconic with this region. Occurring mostly in the temperate forests and also sometimes in the sub-tropical forests in Bhutan, India and Nepal within the Eastern Himalayas, this species also has its range extended into China and Myanmar. This species is presently threatened due to poaching, and habitat destruction and degradation. Red panda is presently confined in patches within this region, and needs urgent attention of the national and provincial governments, conservation organisations and local communities for its long term survival. WWF has been working with its partners to conserve this species and their habitat through a plethora of activities in the three countries within Eastern Himalayas.

• Factsheet
  
• Red Panda Conservation Action Plan
• Red panda at Wikipedia

The Eastern Himalayas is home to a significant population of tigers (Panthera tigris tigris). Found in the Terai-Duar grasslands of the Himalayan foothills and the temperate forests of Bhutan, this once contiguous population of tigers is becoming more fragmented due to growing threats. Increasing human pressure is pushing into the tigers’ natural habitat and causing human-tiger conflicts. The creation of Tiger Reserves throughout the region has helped to stabilize numbers but poaching in recent years has once again put the tiger at risk. WWF has been working with the respective governments and local partners in the Eastern Himalayas to strengthen anti-poaching efforts and to reduce threats to its habitat. WWF is also working in India to monitor the status of tiger in some of its key ranges.

• Factsheet
• Pictures & more
• Tiger Conservation Action Plan
• Tiger at Wikipedia

Living at elevations between 3,000-5,500m in the high mountains of the Eastern Himalayas, the snow leopard (Panthera uncia) remains elusive. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the population estimates at 200-600 in India, 300-400 in Nepal and 100-200 in Bhutan. The main threats to the snow leopard’s survival are loss of habitat and prey, poaching and human-wildlife conflict. WWF is researching and protecting this Endangered species by working with partners and local communities to stop the illegal trade in cat skins, creating anti-poaching activities, establishing innovative relief funds and reducing pressures on the snow leopard’s habitat.

• Factsheet
  
• Snow leopard at Wikipedia