The Bhutanese Leading the way.
In 2019, botanists identified a significant population of Hemiorchis pantlingii, a rare ginger species, in the forests of Samtse. This was the first confirmed record of the species in the country. The plant is found thriving in a subtropical forest under the shade of Shorea robusta trees, alongside species like Curcuma aromatica, Globba multiflora, and Remusatia vivipara in parts of India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. The discovery of the plant in Bhutan has expanded its known range and offered hope for its continued survival.
Despite the healthy population, the area faces a growing threat from wild boars. These animals, while native to the region, have become increasingly destructive. Their natural foraging behavior includes rooting and digging into the forest floor in search of food, especially underground rhizomes, and tubers. In doing so, they damage the delicate root systems of herbaceous plants, including H. pantlingii, and often consume the rhizomes directly.
The damage is not limited to this one species. Wild boars also disturb a wide range of native flora. They uproot ferns, orchids, and small shrubs, many of which are important for the forest’s biodiversity and ecological balance. Species like Impatiens tripetala, Oplismenus hirtellus, and even young saplings of canopy trees may be destroyed or prevented from regenerating due to repeated soil disruption. In some cases, the disturbed ground is left exposed, leading to increased erosion and changes in soil composition, which can further hinder plant growth.
Wild boars also affect seed dispersal patterns by feeding on fruits and seeds, and they may outcompete native wildlife for resources. Their impact on the forest floor alters microhabitats for insects, amphibians, and ground-dwelling birds. This cascading effect can influence forest health on a larger scale, reducing the natural regeneration of both understory and overstory species.
Conservationists have assessed H. pantlingii as Near Threatened under IUCN guidelines. While its total estimated extent of occurrence spans over 282,000 square kilometers, the actual area it occupies is much smaller—about 56 square kilometers. The Bhutan population appears stable for now, with an estimated 1,500 individuals, but increasing habitat degradation, driven in part by wild boar activity and other pressures like leaf litter collection, may soon lead to a decline.
As wild boar populations expand and their foraging becomes more intensive, the risk to vulnerable plant species like H. pantlingii grows. Without natural predators or active management, their ecological impact can extend beyond a single species to threaten the integrity of entire forest ecosystems.
Efforts to monitor and manage wild boar activity may be necessary to safeguard Bhutan’s rich forest biodiversity. Conservation strategies might include community awareness, habitat protection, and research into sustainable population control.
