Recently a male elephant was camera-trapped in Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve , Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh

• This marks the first sighting in 12 years, with the last recorded presence in 2013.

More on the Elephant Sighting

• Conservation Importance: The elephant was recorded deep inside the forest, unlike past sightings near the fringe areas.
  • Indicates possible restoration of migration patterns and highlights the need for continued conservation efforts.
• Traditional Migration Route: Elephants historically migrated between Namsai (Arunachal Pradesh) and Myanmar via Namdapha National Park.
  • The route included Boga Pahad-Bulbulia-Firmbase-Embeyong-52nd Mile Nallah-Kodboi-Myanmar.

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About Namdapha Tiger Reserve

• Location: Situated in Changlang District, Arunachal Pradesh. It borders Myanmar to the southeast and shares a common boundary with Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary. It lies between the Dapha Bum ridge of the Mishmi Hills (Northeastern Himalayas) and the Patkai Ranges.
• Vegetation: Comprises diverse forest types:
  • Northern Tropical Evergreen Forests
  • North Indian Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests
  • East Himalayan Moist Temperate Forests
  • Moist Alpine Scrub Forests
• River System: The Namdapha River flows north to south through the reserve.The reserve’s name is derived from the Namdapha River.
  • The Namdapha River originates in the Dapha Bum glaciers of Arunachal Pradesh and flows southward, joining the Noa-Dihing River
• Biogeographical Significance: Located at the junction of the Indian Subcontinent and Indo-China Biogeographic Regions.
• Fauna: Home to diverse wildlife, including Elephants, Himalayan Black Bear & Sun Bear, Hoolock Gibbon (India’s only ape) and Slow Loris.
• Flora: Unique species such as Pinus Merkusi and Abies Delavavi (exclusive to the park); Blue Vanda, a rare and endangered orchid and Mishimi Teeta (Coptis teeta), a medicinal plant used by local tribes for treating diseases.

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