The tropical forests at the foothills up to the height
of 1,000 m are of the wet evergreen variety as well as the
tropical evergreen variety and the riverine semi green variety.
Then there are the sub tropical forests 1,000-2,000 m),
the pine forests 1,000-2,000 m) and the temperate forests
2,000-3,000m). There are both the broad-leafed temperate
forests as well as the conifer forests. The bamboo forests
and grasslands have not been enlisted so far.
Walk On the Wild Side
The rhododendron forests of Arunachal Pradesh are really
exotic. Yellow, pink, and red flowers crown little bushes
that stand unmindful of the layers of snow on the ground.
Namdapha National Park - The Indian Rain
Forest Region
Within one single forest, animals from four types of climatic
zones can be found because the forest stretches across the
four of them! The forest that covers four climatic zones
is called Namdapha. Namdapha National Park, one of the surviving
rain forests of the world, is located on the banks of the
river Noa Dihing, which later becomes the Brahmaputra.
The park with dense vegetation is largely inaccessible
and houses diverse flora and fauna that are typical of this
area. An eerie silence is pierced by the screeches of preys
and predators. The Majestic Gaur or Mithun, Elephant, Himalayan
Black Bear, Takin, the Wild Goat peculiar to the Patkoi
Range, Musk Deer, Slow Loris, Binturong and the Red Panda
are all found here.
The predators include the tiger, leopard, the rare snow
leopard and clouded leopard in the higher reaches of the
hills. A number of primate species are to be seen in the
park, such as the Assamese Macaque, Pig-Tailed Macaque,
Stumptailed Macaque and the distinctive Hoolock Gibbon.
Hornbills, Jungle Fowl and Pheasants flap their noisy way
through the jungle, which harbours other colourful bird
species. The inaccessibility of the greater part of the
park has helped to keep the forests in their pristine state.
The park is also a Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger.
The Namdapha National Park is a place that one must visit.
Situated on the banks of water that looks crystal white
reflecting the myriad shades of green that the forest has
arranged as a showcase, the park's beauty is beyond compare.
Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary
Since 1972, many forest zones have been declared as national
parks and sanctuaries. The Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary lies
to the southwestern side of Arunachal. It is dark, deep
and green, happily crossing little rivulets and moving into
narrow clearing filled with animals.
Deep inside is a rest house. It is like being thrown to
the wilderness when one can stay. One bathroom even has
the footprints of an elephant, which visited the place when
the cement had not yet set!
The Silent Creepers
The forest guards tell one that the possible visitors
could be the Tiger, Leopard, Jungle Cat, Fishing Cat, Wild
Dog, Jackal, Indian Fox, Bear, Black Bear, Macaque, Slow
Loris, Barking Deer, Sambar and so on. Some creeps like
the python, the Cobra or the Krait are distinct possibilities.
The first reptile to be created is believed to have been
the snake.
An Interesting Tale
A story goes that the sun used to go the field everyday
for work while a bird used to baby sit his child. The bid
would strap the child to her back with a belt given specially
for the purpose. One day this special belt fell off. Was
the sun angry! He sent the bird to look for the belt, which
was actually a snake! The snake had fallen to the earth.
Everyday the bird tried to take it back, but halfway up
would get fatigued and fly no more. That is why even today,
birds keep picking worms and little snakes, trying to reach
up there.
This is the very same forest from which the mascot for
the Asian Games held in India came. "Appu" was
the name of the elephant.
Rainforests
The lower areas are covered with swampy rainforests, great
sized trees like the Hoolock, Bola and giant sized Bamboos,
plentiful Climbers (most prominently of Cane) and abundant
under growth. Many varieties of orchids (500), of which
175 found only in Arunachal add that touch of delicacy.
Bamboos are found even higher up. There are over 12 genera
and 30 species of Bamboos occurring in Arunachal Pradesh.
The higher altitudes between 1,000 to 3,000m have mainly
deciduous and mixed deciduous forests. Walnuts, Oaks, Chestnuts,
Pine, Spruce and Rhododendrons are found here. Short statured
wild Rhododendrons are, however, found in plenty at a height
of about 4,000 m. between the two areas, there comes an
area of the conifers. Above the area of the Rhododendrons
lies the alpine meadows at peaks just short of 5,000 m.
Other Wildlife Sanctuaries
The other sanctuaries and parks in Arunachal Pradesh are
Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary, Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary, D'Ering
Memorial Sanctuary and the Moiling National Park.
