Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: HT
Context: A tiger has been spotted at a record-high elevation of 3,640 meters in the Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary in Sikkim. This marks the highest elevation in India where tigers have been observed, surpassing the previous record of 3,630 meters in Arunachal Pradesh.
About Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary
| Topic | Details | |
| Location | The Pangalokha Wildlife Sanctuary is situated at the tri-junction of Sikkim, Bengal, and Bhutan. The Pangolakha range in the east separates Sikkim from Bhutan |  
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| Size |
It is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Sikkim. | |
| Connectivity | Linked to Neora Valley National Park of West Bengal, forests of Samtse and Haa district in Bhutan. | |
| Biodiversity | Home to various species, including red pandas, snow leopards, Himalayan musk deer, goral, and black bears. | |
| Lakes | Features high-altitude lakes, including Lake Tsongmo, a biodiversity hotspot for migratory birds. | |
| Rivers | Major rivers like Rangpo and Jaldhaka originate from nearby lakes within the sanctuary. | |
| Biogeographic Realm | Falls at the junction of the Palearctic realm and the Indomalayan realm, supporting diverse species. | |
| Ecoregions & Biomes | Encompasses various ecoregions, including the Terai-Duar savanna, Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests, Himalayan subtropical pine forests, Eastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forests, and Eastern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows. | |
