Guwahati: In a landmark moment for conservation efforts in Arunachal Pradesh, a tiger has been camera-trapped for the first time in Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary. The discovery was made during a recent survey led by Range Forest Officer (RFO) Dr. Kabuk Lego, in collaboration with the North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST) Wildlife Laboratory, Department of Forestry PhD scholar Deepankar Barman, and the Wildlife Trust of India.
While tiger presence has long been inferred from signs and community reports, this is the first time photographic evidence has confirmed their existence in the sanctuary, despite previous intensive studies.
The forest department credits the Idu Mishmi and Adi communities of Lower Dibang Valley with sustaining the region’s rich biodiversity, including its population of large carnivores. The Dibang, Kamlang, and Namdapha landscapes provide crucial habitat connectivity and a strong prey base for tigers, ensuring a healthy genetic flow.
However, the survey also uncovered a grim reality—illegal poaching activity. In early February, a foot trap set by poachers was discovered during a camera trap retrieval, injuring survey team member Rama Umpo. Foot traps, typically used for hunting large animals, also pose a significant danger to humans, including tourists, students, and local herders.
In response, Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary officials have intensified anti-poaching operations along suspected trails, working alongside national agencies such as the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB). A cash reward system has also been announced for informants providing actionable intelligence on tiger poaching syndicates operating across state and international borders.
Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary, situated in Lower Dibang Valley, is named after the mesmerizing Mehao Lake, which lies in the core zone of the sanctuary.
The sanctuary boasts rich wildlife diversity, including 200 species of birds, 13 snake species, 232 species of butterflies, and six fish species. It is home to around 60 species of mammals and several other animal species. Prominent species found in the sanctuary include the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata), wild dog (Cuon alpinus), spotted linsang (Prionodon pardicolor), Himalayan black bear (Ursus thibetanus), and red panda (Ailurus fulgens).
Beyond its faunal diversity, the sanctuary also harbors a variety of flora, such as Terminalia myriocarpa, Altingia excelsa, several Albizia species, Duabanga grandiflora, Dillenia indica, Mesua ferrea, Phyllostachys bambusoides, Dendrocalamus giganteus, and Bambusa pallida. At the highest points of the sanctuary, medicinal plants like Mishmi Teeta (Coptis teeta) can be found.
According to the Wildlife Institute of India’s 2022 Tiger Estimation Report, a total of nine tigers were photo-captured in Arunachal Pradesh. In contrast, the 2018 report recorded 29 tigers, reflecting a 70% decline.
Three tiger reserves—Pakke, Kamlang, and Namdapha—along with Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary, were sampled in the state. Six tigers were photo-captured in Pakke and two in Dibang. No tiger was recorded from Kamlang Tiger Reserve, either through camera trap images or scat DNA analysis. Due to the small sample size, tiger density estimates could not be obtained for Arunachal Pradesh. “However, this could be an underestimation of tigers in the state,” the report states.
Also Read: How a machine is making it easier to process Elephant Apple