Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh contains within itself a wide elevation range (500 to 3200 m ASL), diverse habitats and species which make it one of the most important areas of the Kameng Protected Area Complex. This complex covers over 3500 sq km; two states, and five protected areas. The spectacular bird diversity of Eaglenest has been the keystone in ensuring Eaglenest’s protection by the resident Bugun and Shertukpen community. About 525 bird species are known from a 100 km region centred around Eaglenest – globally second only to the eastern slopes of the Andes in South America.
Surprisingly, the mammalian fauna in Eaglenest and the surrounding community forests remained undocumented. As part of my PhD project for James Cook University, Australia, Priya Singh and I did a 60-day camera trapping exercise (from April to June 2013) in a comparable area of the protected area and community forest. The exercise revealed some really interesting species! Here is a photofeature of some of the mammals “captured”.
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We have several independent observations of the Asiatic black bear, especially from the protected area. Hunters from around Eaglenest call the gall bladder of this species a blank cheque.
Barking deer were one of the most common species in both the protected area and community forest.
With deforestation related to insurgency in the plains of Assam, elephant populations will soon be isolated and confined to small pockets.
Gaur which was once a taboo to hunt, is now hunted by a few Buddhist tribes. The protected area however had several camera trap photographs of this species.
The magnificent golden cat was photographed in a part of the community forest where a fire had spread.
A leopard cat that regularly visited an agricultural field in the village.
Himalayan crestless porcupine feeding on oak seeds.
A marbled cat from the protected area.
A red panda from the community forest: a proud moment for the stewards who want to declare this area as a community reserve.
Wild dog pups playing in front of the camera trap.
Yellow throated Martens were commonly photographed from both areas.
About the author
Nandini Velho
Nandini is a postgraduate in wildlife biology and conservation. She is currently a PhD student at James Cook University and research associate at National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS).
We have several independent observations of the Asiatic black bear, especially from the protected area. Hunters from around Eaglenest call the gall bladder of this species a blank cheque.
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The mammalian fauna of Eaglenest has been poorly documented. CI presents some of the mammals “captured” in a recent camera trapping exercise.