Winged visitors flock in Day Ering Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh during winter. File image: Northeast Now.


PASIGHAT: Daying Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary near Pasighat in Eastern Arunachal, which is known for its rich bio-diversity, is regaining its past glory during last few months thanks to intensified patrolling with limited staffs of wildlife department in the district.

Pasighat Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife) Tasang Taga said patrolling had been intensified  in and around the sanctuary to protect the wild beasts thriving therein.

The wildlife officials during a recent surveysighted many wild animals such as hog deer, sambar, wild Boar,buffaloes along with various species of reptiles, resident birds and aquatic animals amid natural vegetation inside the sanctuary. They also have claimed to have observed pug marks of Leopard and Royal Bengal Tiger in the sandbars inside the sanctuary.

It may be recalled that Guwahati-based leading environmental NGO Aranyak conducted camera trapping in Daying Ering sanctuary in April this year and traced movement of various mammalian species including hog deer, sambar, hares, wild boars, wild buffalo, elephants and primates inthe sanctuary. Moreover, movement of some carnivorous animals including Big Cat species during night hours has also been recorded during their survey.

The Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife) informed that the NGO conducted survey on animal diversity with their natural habitats in the state by toiling into hilly deep jungles and riverine islands of the region and studied on suitable habitat of the wildlife in Siang region.

“Apart from intensified patrolling, our officialsare constantly mobilizing the people of the fringe areas to protect the wildlife sanctuary, which is necessary for survival of their future generations,” said DFO (WL) Taga.

Earlier too, officials of WWF conducted such animalsurvey in the sanctuary in 2013 and found many wild beasts in the sanctuary.

On the other hand, winter migratory birds including Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea), great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), and many other colourful water birds have been spotted in the water bodies of the wildlife sanctuary since first week of this month, attracting special attention of the wildlife officials and the nature lover as well.

Though wildlife officials used to witness arrival of avian visitors to the area during January or early February each year, but the winged guests did not arrive for last couple of years.

Prafulla Kaman is Northeast Now Correspondent in Dhemaji. He can be reached at: [email protected]