Black-necked cranes of Phobjika Valley Bhutan

Black-necked cranes migrate to protected Phobjika Valley for the winter from Tibet and circle the Gangteng Monastery three times (clockwise in accordance with Buddhist practice) before landing in the fields and marshy area of the long fertile valley. Meet Kharma, a permanent resident of the Recovery Centre, due to an injured wing. Good news is the crane population is increasing due to sanctuaries in Bhutan and Tibet. Nice hiking above the valley.  

Kingdom of Bhutan

The clean air in the mountains and valleys of Bhutan, a remote Buddhist kingdom at the eastern edge of the Himalayas, is striking. While Bhutanese may describe themselves as a very small and poor country, Bhutan measures Gross National Happiness. In that measure they probably compete across the globe. The index is used to measure the collective happiness and well-being of the population, instituted in the Constitution of Bhutan, enacted in 2008.