BHUTAN TODAY The New Perspective

…𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈-𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎 𝒔𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒍𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒗𝒊𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 By Sonam Choden Bhutan has recorded a notable increase in its snow leopard (Panthera uncia) population, rising from 96 individuals in 2016 to 134 in 2023. This represents a 39.5 percent growth, according to the 2022–2023 National Snow Leopard Survey. Despite this encouraging trend, the long-term sustainability of the species …

…𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝒖𝒓𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍𝒔, 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉 𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒈𝒈𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒖𝒏𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒍𝒚 By Kezang ChodenResidents of Sangbay and Gakiling Gewogs in Haa Dzongkhag, along with Dophuchen, Denchukha, and Dumtoe Gewogs in Samtse Dzongkhag, have grown increasingly concerned over frequent power outages persisting for more than a decade. According to affected residents, the unreliable electricity …

In a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, Bhutan’s approach to AI governance offers an important alternative- one grounded not in economic expediency alone, but in cultural identity, sustainability, and the well-being of all citizens. The country’s plan to align its artificial intelligence development with the principles of Gross National Happiness (GNH) reflects both a bold vision and a necessary …

…𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚-𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 600 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒔, 𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒑 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒔 𝒓𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒔 By Kinzang Lhamo A 9.518-kilometre chain-link fencing project in Ramjar Gewog has been completed, offering protection to approximately 613.1 acres of farmland and directly benefiting 275 households. Funded by the Government of India under the Project Tied Assistance (GoI-PTA) initiative, the project is being credited with reducing …

…𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒇𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒇𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 By Sonam Choden Human-elephant conflict (HEC) continues to grow as a serious concern in many parts of southern Bhutan, especially in areas bordering forested regions. One such affected area is Baepoteng-Kangdoongphu Chiwog under Tashichhoeling Gewog, where farmers have repeatedly suffered crop damage and property losses due to wild elephants. …