Sprawling across 278 sq km, Phipsoo or Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary is the only sanctuary in Bhutan that has natural sal forests and is a prime habitat of Chital deer or the spotted deer Axis Axis. It lies entirely inside Sarpang dzongkhag and touches the borders of Indian State of Assam in the south. River Sunkosh Chhu flows to its west while it has Beteni geog in Tsirang dzongkhag in the north and Hile geog in the east. Phipsoo wildlife sanctuary has mostly tropical and sub-tropical ecosystem and vegetation. The rare and endangered animals that find their homes in this sanctuary include tigers, Asian elephants, gaur and golden langurs.
Phibsoo sanctuary is relatively uninhabited, though you can find some sparse human population settled to its southwestern edge. It is about 50 km east of Phuentsholing. You can spot the rare hornbill here. This wildlife sanctuary occupies an important position biogeographically and is fully functional. Preliminary surveys of the flora and fauna have already been completed here while some other surveys are still going on in the region. The World-wide Fund for Nature is providing support in the conservation management programme of Phipsoo wildlife sanctuary and to ensure that the basic conservation infrastructure is in place.
