Editing Sikkim (section)

=== Flora and fauna ===
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 | footer = Noble orchid (top) is Sikkim's state flower. Rhododendron is its state tree; about 40 species of rhododendron bloom late April – mid May across the state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pannatigerreserve.in/kids/state.htm|title=State Animals, Birds, Trees and Flower|access-date=26 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013002319/http://www.pannatigerreserve.in/kids/state.htm|archive-date=13 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
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Sikkim is situated in an [[ecological hotspot]] of the lower Himalayas, one of only three among the [[ecoregions of India]].<ref name="ethnobiomed.biomedcentral.com">{{cite journal |last1=O'Neill |first1=Alexander |display-authors=etal |date=29 March 2017 |title=Integrating ethnobiological knowledge into biodiversity conservation in the Eastern Himalayas |journal=Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine |volume=13 |issue=21 |pages= 21|doi=10.1186/s13002-017-0148-9 |pmid=28356115 |pmc=5372287 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="O'Neill_2019">{{cite journal |last1=O'Neill |first1=A. R.| date=2019 |title=Evaluating high-altitude Ramsar wetlands in the Sikkim Eastern Himalayas |journal=Global Ecology and Conservation |volume=20 |issue=e00715 |pages=19 |doi=10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00715 |doi-access=free }}</ref> The forested regions of the state exhibit a diverse range of [[fauna (animals)|fauna]] and [[flora (plants)|flora]]. Owing to its altitudinal gradation, the state has a wide variety of plants, from tropical species to temperate, alpine and tundra ones, and is perhaps one of the few regions to exhibit such a diversity within such a small area. Nearly 81 per cent of the area of Sikkim comes under the administration of its forest department.<ref name="forest-dept">{{Cite web | url = http://sikkim.nic.in/sws/sikk_fore.htm | title = Forests in Sikkim | publisher = Forest Department, Government of Sikkim | access-date = 3 June 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090517214937/http://sikkim.nic.in/sws/sikk_fore.htm | archive-date = 17 May 2009 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

Sikkim is home to around 5,000 species of flowering plants, 515 rare [[orchidaceae|orchids]], 60 [[primula]] species, 36 [[rhododendron]] species, 11 [[oak]] varieties, 23 [[bamboo]] varieties, 16 [[pinophyta|conifer]] species, 362 types of [[fern]]s and ferns allies, 8 [[tree fern]]s, and over 900 medicinal plants.<ref name="ethnobiomed.biomedcentral.com"/><ref name="oneill_khecheopalri"/> A relative of the [[Poinsettia]], locally known as "Christmas Flower", can be found in abundance in the mountainous state. The [[Dendrobium nobile|Noble Dendrobium]] is the official flower of Sikkim, while the [[rhododendron]] is the [[List of Indian state trees|state tree]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pannatigerreserve.in/kids/state.htm|title=State Animals, Birds, Trees and Flowers of India|publisher=Panna Tiger Reserve|access-date=26 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013002319/http://www.pannatigerreserve.in/kids/state.htm|archive-date=13 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

Orchids, [[ficus|figs]], [[Lauraceae|laurel]], [[banana]]s, [[Shorea robusta|sal]] trees and bamboo grow in the [[Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests]] of the lower altitudes of Sikkim. In the temperate elevations above {{convert|1500|m|ft}} there are [[Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests]], where oaks, [[chestnut]]s, [[maple]]s, [[birch]]es, [[alder]]s, and [[magnolia]]s grow in large numbers, as well as [[Himalayan subtropical pine forests]], dominated by [[Chir pine]]. [[Alpine climate|Alpine-type]] vegetation is typically found between an altitude of {{convert|3500|to|5000|m|ft}}. In lower elevations are found [[juniper]], pine, [[fir]]s, [[Cupressus|cypresses]] and rhododendrons from the [[Eastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forests]]. Higher up are [[Eastern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows]] and high-altitude wetlands, which are home to a wide variety of rhododendrons and wildflowers.<ref name="O'Neill_2019"/><ref name="oneill_khecheopalri"/>

[[File:Red panda sikkim.jpg|thumb|right|The [[red panda]] is the state animal of Sikkim.]]
The fauna of Sikkim include the [[snow leopard]],<ref>Wilson DE, Mittermeier RA (eds) (2009) ''Handbook of the Mammals of the World''. Vol. 1. Carnivores. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona</ref> [[musk deer]], <!-- the [[bhoral]], --> [[Himalayan tahr]], [[red panda]], [[Himalayan marmot]], [[Himalayan serow]], [[Himalayan goral]], [[muntjac]], [[common langur]], [[Asian black bear]], [[clouded leopard]],<ref>{{cite iucn |author=Gray, T. |author2=Borah, J. |author3=Coudrat, C.N.Z. |author4=Ghimirey, Y. |author5=Giordano, A. |author6=Greenspan, E. |author7=Petersen, W. |author8=Rostro-García, S. |author9=Shariff, M. |author10=Wai-Ming, W. |date=2021 |title=''Neofelis nebulosa'' |volume=2021 |page=e.T14519A198843258 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T14519A198843258.en |access-date=13 November 2021}}</ref> [[marbled cat]], [[leopard cat]],<ref>{{Cite book | title = Mammals of Nepal | last = Shrestha | first = Tej Kumar | year = 1997 | isbn = 978-0-9524390-6-6 | pages = 350–371 | publisher = Bimala Shrestha }}</ref> [[dhole]], [[Tibetan wolf]], [[hog badger]], [[binturong]], and [[Felis chaus affinis|Himalayan jungle cat]]. Among the animals more commonly found in the alpine zone are [[yak]]s, mainly reared for their [[milk]], meat, and as a beast of burden.

The [[Bird|avifauna]] of Sikkim include the [[impeyan pheasant]], [[Satyr tragopan|crimson horned pheasant]], [[snow partridge]], [[Tibetan snowcock]], [[bearded vulture]] and [[griffon vulture]], as well as [[golden eagle]]s, [[quail]]s, [[plover]]s, [[woodcock]]s, [[sandpiper]]s, [[pigeon]]s, [[Old World flycatcher]]s, [[Old World babbler|babblers]] and robins. Sikkim has more than 550 species of birds, some of which have been declared [[endangered species|endangered]].<ref name="O'Neill_2019"/>

Sikkim also has a rich diversity of [[arthropods]], many of which remain unstudied.<ref name="O'Neill_2019"/> Some of the most understudied species are Sikkimese arthropods, specifically [[butterfly|butterflies]]. Of the approximately 1,438 butterfly species found in the [[Indian subcontinent]], 695 have been recorded in Sikkim.{{sfn|Evans|1932|p=23}} These include the endangered [[Teinopalpus imperialis|Kaiser-i-hind]], the [[Meandrusa payeni|Yellow Gorgon]] and the [[Bhutanitis lidderdalii|Bhutan Glory]].{{sfn|Haribal|2003|p=9}}

====National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries====
List of National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries of Sikkim:<ref>{{cite web |title=Wildlife |url=https://sikkim.gov.in/departments/forest-environment-and-wildlife-department/wildlife |website =Government of Sikkim |access-date=14 September 2024}}</ref>
* [[Khangchendzonga National Park]]
* [[Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary]]
* [[Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary]]
* [[Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary]]
* [[Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary]]
* [[Varsey Rhododendron Sanctuary|Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary]]
* [[Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary]]
* [[Kitam Bird Sanctuary]]
* [[Sling Dong Faireanum Orchid Conservation Reserve]]