Posted on June, 29 2011

Wangchuck Centennial Park (WCP), the largest park in Bhutan with an area of 4914 km², was declared protected in 2008 as a tribute to one hundred years of monarchy under the Wangchuck Dynasty. Apart from this historical value, the park is also significant from a biological perspective by making the entire northern part of the country protected. The park now fills the missing gap between Jigme Dorji National Park and Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary. Besides playing these important roles, WCP is also a faunal paradise with as many as 23 mammal species, such as snow leopard, common leopard, tiger, Himalayan black bear, takin, etc, and about 153 bird species, such as Brandt’s mountain finch, white-browed tit warbler and raven, known to exist in its luscious forests.

Conserving WCP is an utmost priority; from its tall snow peaked towers, the country’s four major rivers namely Punatshangchu, Mangdechu, Chamkarchu and Kurichu originate. These perennial rivers flow in different routes across the park making travel to reach some of the far flung areas in the park extremely difficult. 

Solely with the aim to improve communication and transportation across such rivers, WWF along with WCP initiated the construction of a 26 meter cantilever bridge on one such river, the Tangchhu (which is one of the main tributaries of Chamkharchhu) in the southern region of the park in Tang Gewog (block).

Located approximately 45 minutes walking distance from the last and nearest village, Chutey, this cantilever bridge is completely isolated and distant. During the construction stage, despite huge labor and material shortages and cold weather conditions, the park staff managed to engage about 50 workers from nearby communities to work on it daily. Due to its remote location, it was also impossible for the park staff to deploy heavy machinery, so most of the work had to be done manually. Before the construction could begin, the team had to first divert the river which was an arduous task in itself. Finally, with combined and dedicated efforts the bridge was completed within six months. All materials used for the construction were those that were locally available.

Prior to the construction of the bridge, a makeshift bridge usually made with a few strategically placed tree logs served as the only connection link across the Tangchhu. Such bridges are not only unsafe and risky for users but time and again they would be washed away by heavy tide.

After the completion of the Thodak bridge construction, community members and nomads can now easily commute across the river. There are also many pilgrims that can freely visit the Thodak Monastery which is located across the river.  It also increases the ability to trek from one part of the valley to another.
Though this initiative is small, it will go a long way in developing partnerships between communities living in and around the park to support future conservation work. This bridge also offers better opportunities for more WCP related research as the park staff will now be able to carry out improved monitoring and patrolling functions.

WWF and WCP look forward to joining community leaders and residents in formally inaugurating the bridge in the months ahead.


Geographical location of the Thodak Cantilever bridge: 
27 degree 39 .909 minutes –GPS (north), 90 degree 54.012 minutes-GPS (east) 
2872 meters