Keeping an objective to conduct expedition on bio-diversity existing in the natural flora and fauna of Siang region of Arunachal Pradsh, a team of scientists from Wildlife Institution of India, Dehradun has arrived at historical Pasighat town on Saturday.
The expedition team led by Dr Abhijeet Das (Zoologist) comprises Dr Monuj Naik (Ornithologist), Dr Bivash Pandav (Tiger expert), Dr Navendu Page (Plant taxonomist), Bivek Sarkar (Entomolgist), Dhritiman Mukherjee (wildlife- photographer), retired Professor (wildlife) Sushil Kumar Dutta and others will conduct study on the wild beasts and their socio-economic impact besides survey to tracing historical road.
Their activities include comprehensive survey on wildlife and documentation, sound trekking of the wild animals and scientific photography, which will come up with book and scientific articles.
The ecological expedition also aims at survey on historical route of wildlife survey along Siang river basin made by the Britishers during ‘Abor Expedition’ in early nineteenth century.
The British went on expedition in the Abor jungles, which is presently known as Siang region of Arunachal Pradesh divided into five districts – Siang, East Siang, West Siang, Lower Siang and Upper Siang.
Dr Abhijeet said that their study would tally the existence of wildlife found during Abor Expedition and also focus on extinct and endangered species.
“The British surveyors had no equipments during their time, but now we have ultra modern equipments to conduct such activities”, he said.
The month-long expedition was flagged off by former Union Minister from Arunachal, Omak Apang at Pasighat DFO (Wildlife)’s office on Saturday.
In his address Apang termed the expedition ‘very promising’ and ‘challenging’ and asked the scientists to have a ‘micro plan’ to perform their activities.
Apang is optimistic that the iconic expedition on the pristine forestland and water bodies would explore the rich wildlife habitat in the hilly state.
He also assured all possible help to the team during the expedition. The expedition project is funded by New Delhi based Hemchand Mohindra Ltd.
While explaining insight of the expedition, retired Professor Dutta, who hails from Odisha, exuded confidence of much discovery in the Himalayan state.
He termed the wildlife sanctuaries of Arunachal as treasure throve of the forest and wildlife departments and opined that these wild resources should be brought to the country’s limelight.
The expedition team visited a perennial stream at Rennging hillside near Pasighat on Saturday evening and recorded existence of a number of aquatic animals, reptiles and insect species.
The route of ongoing expedition is guided by Wildlife DFO (Mouling National Park) Boken Pao and coordinated by Pasighat DFO (D’Ering Wildlife Sanctuary) Tasang Taga.
The team will proceed towards Siang and Upper Siang districts and culminate their expedition at Geling near Indo-China border on October 25 next.