National Parks in Arunachal Pradesh, Sanctuaries, Tiger Reserves

The National Parks in Arunachal Pradesh are legally recognised regions that are created to conserve ecosystems, wildlife, and natural habitats. They restrict human activities like hunting, logging, and land conversion. In India, these areas include National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Tiger Reserves, Elephant Reserves, Biosphere Reserves, and Community Reserves. They aim to protect biodiversity, maintain ecological balance, conserve endangered species, and preserve genetic diversity for future generations, while also supporting scientific research, environmental education, and climate resilience.

Protected Areas in Arunachal Pradesh

Protected areas are officially notified zones created to conserve wildlife, forests, and fragile ecosystems through legal protection and regulated human use. The Protected Areas include:

1. National Parks: Fully protected ecosystems with strict restrictions on human activities.
2. Wildlife Sanctuaries: Areas allowing limited human use while conserving wildlife habitats.
3. Tiger Reserves: Landscapes managed specifically for long term tiger conservation.
4. Biosphere Reserves: Large regions balancing conservation, livelihoods, and sustainable development.

National Parks in Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh hosts two National Parks in India within the Eastern Himalayan global biodiversity hotspot. These parks protect vast altitudinal ranges, tropical to alpine forests, and highly diverse flora and fauna. The state has nearly 79.63% forest and tree cover, making it India’s second highest in forest cover percentage. National Parks form the core of its Protected Area Network, safeguarding rare species, endemic plants, and critical river systems, while contributing to biodiversity conservation, climate stability, and ecological research across northeastern India.

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Namdapha National Park

Namdapha National Park is India’s largest eastern Himalayan protected area, located near the India Myanmar border in Changlang district.

1. Location: Situated between Mishmi Hills and Patkai range along Noa Dihing river.
2. Area: Covers about 1,985.24 square kilometres of dense forest landscape.
3. Biodiversity: Part of Eastern Himalayan global biodiversity hotspot with exceptional species richness.
4. Big Cats: Only park globally hosting tiger, leopard, snow leopard, clouded leopard.
5. Flora: Contains over 150 timber species including rare Pinus merkusii.
6. Endemism: Home to critically endangered Namdapha flying squirrel.
7. Birds: Supports over 450 bird species including white winged wood duck.

Mouling National Park

Mouling National Park lies in Upper Siang district and protects diverse altitudinal forest ecosystems along the Siang river basin.

1. Establishment: Declared National Park in 1986 to conserve fragile mountain ecosystems.
2. Area: Covers about 483 square kilometres of forested terrain.
3. Vegetation: Ranges from tropical evergreen to alpine conifer forests.
4. Fauna: Supports takin, red panda, tiger, serow, and barking deer.
5. Rivers: Drained by Siyom, Siring, Subong rivers feeding the Siang.

Tiger Reserves in Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh has three notified Tiger Reserves forming crucial corridors in the Eastern Himalaya. These reserves support tigers, elephants, and diverse prey species while conserving forests, rivers, and tribal landscapes. Together, they cover extensive forest tracts and strengthen India’s tiger conservation network by protecting breeding habitats, ensuring genetic connectivity, and supporting community based conservation in ecologically sensitive border regions.

1. Namdapha: Largest tiger reserve with exceptional altitudinal and habitat diversity.
2. Pakke: Foothill reserve linking Assam and Arunachal forest landscapes.
3. Kamlang: Eastern reserve connecting Namdapha and Lohit river forests.

Namdapha Tiger Reserve

Namdapha Tiger Reserve overlaps fully with Namdapha National Park in Changlang district.

1. Area: Spans approximately 1,985.24 square kilometres of protected forest.
2. Significance: Supports four big cat species and intact rainforest habitats.
3. Fauna: Includes tiger, elephant, gaur, red panda, Asiatic black bear.

Pakke Tiger Reserve

Pakke Tiger Reserve lies in the foothills of the Eastern Himalaya along Kameng basin.

1. Area: Covers about 861.95 square kilometres of forest landscape.
2. Connectivity: Links Nameri National Park, Eaglenest, and Sessa Orchid Sanctuary.
3. Conservation: Known for Hornbill Nest Adoption Programme success.

Kamlang Tiger Reserve

Kamlang Tiger Reserve is located between Lohit River and Namdapha landscape.

1. Area: Encompasses around 783 square kilometres of protected forests.
2. Habitat: Ranges from wet evergreen forests to alpine vegetation.
3. Species: Hosts tiger, clouded leopard, snow leopard, Asian elephant.

Wildlife Sanctuaries in Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh has 13 Wildlife Sanctuaries forming the backbone of its Protected Area Network. Together, they cover nearly 9,779 square kilometres, around 11.90% of the state’s geographical area, far above the national average. These sanctuaries conserve tropical rainforests, alpine meadows, riverine habitats, and orchid rich landscapes. They support about 20% of India’s fauna and nearly 25% of its floral diversity, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, butterflies, orchids, rhododendrons, bamboo, and medicinal plants.

Wildlife Sanctuaries in Arunachal Pradesh List

The major wildlife sanctuaries protect diverse habitats, species, and ecological corridors across the state.

1. Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary: Foothill forests supporting tigers, hornbills, elephants, and rich bird diversity.
2. Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary: Eastern forests with alpine to evergreen vegetation and rare big cats.
3. Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary: Montane forests famous for exceptional bird diversity and altitudinal range.
4. Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary: Forested lake ecosystem supporting mammals, birds, and freshwater biodiversity.
5. Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary: Largest sanctuary conserving high altitude landscapes and takin populations.
6. Daying Ering Memorial Sanctuary: River island habitat supporting migratory birds and aquatic species.
7. Kane Wildlife Sanctuary: Small sanctuary protecting local forest biodiversity and community landscapes.
8. Yordi Rabe Supse Sanctuary: Forest corridor important for mammals and avifauna movement.
9. Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary: Urban fringe forest protecting wildlife near state capital.
10. Tale Wildlife Sanctuary: High altitude forests known for orchids, birds, and endemic species.
11. Sessa Orchid Wildlife Sanctuary: Specialized habitat conserving rich orchid diversity.
12. Ringba Roba Wildlife Sanctuary: Small forest patch preserving local flora and fauna.
13. Kamala Wildlife Sanctuary: Riverine forest ecosystem supporting birds, reptiles, and mammals.