Skip to content Skip to navigation

Presence of Black Panther found in Pakke Wild Life Sanctuary of Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh is one of the naturally beautiful states of India situated in the foothills of the Himalayas and there we have the Pakke Wild life sanctuary which is fast developing as a hot spot for Tourists. The River Bhareli (known as Kameng in Arunachal Pradesh) is on the northern and western sides of the sanctuary, to the east is the Pakke River and to the south lies the Nameri National Park of Assam. In this sanctuary the endangered Black Panther species is available.

The Wild Life Institute of India (W.I.I.), Dehradun and the forest department of Arunachal Pradesh detected the presence of the Black Panther through camera trapping. This collaborative programme that works for tiger conservation has been for the last several months using sophisticated camera to count and make a census on the number of Royal Bengal Tigers (Panthera Tigris) in the sanctuary. During the course of this survey, they were surprised when they came across a photograph of a Black Panther as well. The photograph shows that it has a small shaped round ear, comparatively long body and the tail is also long. Locally this animal is called Soni Nayohi (Creator of Black).

Previously this species was also found in Assam also but acute degradation of forest area has made this rare species extinct in Assam. In 1927 this Black Panther species was also found in the Lusai hill of Mizoram.

The Pakke Wild Life Sanctuary is located in the East Kameng district and was declared a sanctuary in 1977. The invertebrate diversity of the area is completely unexplored. Apart from some limited explorations the area has still remained virgin. A vast portion of the area especially in the central and northern parts of the sanctuary is relatively inaccessible due to the dense vegetation, hilly terrain and the lack of trails. Consequently, hardly any people including the local tribals venture into the interior of the forest.Diversity of vegetation type, Herpetofauna, avifauna, mammals gives the sanctuary a rich biodiversity and has the potential to become a hotspot in the world. It is expected that there are around 1500 vascular plants, 600 species of orchids, 36 species of herpertofauna, 294 avifauna, large number of herbivore and carnivore fauna as well as many rare and endangered species in the park. This park was announced as the 26th Tiger Project by Govt. of India on 2002.

Dibakar Baruah

Author info

editor's picture

Please send your comments to editor@assamtimes.org

Add new comment

Assamese Translator

Assam Times seeks English to Assamese translators!
Join our volunteer team.
Email editor@assamtimes.org.

Random Stories

BSU honours toppers

22 Jun 2014 - 5:03pm | Hantigiri Narzary
The Bodoland Students Union (BSU) felicitated the first divion holder students including rank holders in HSLC examination conducted by SEBA/CBSE at a function held Bodofa Cultural complex in...

Bonhomie boost with Bhutan

23 Mar 2018 - 3:39pm | AT News
GUWAHATI: The Indo-Bhutan bonhomie is set to receive a huge boost if the golden jubilee celebration  of the formal diplomatic relations is any indication.The Himalayan kingdom celebrated the...

Kaziranga celebrates World Elephant Day

12 Aug 2017 - 10:28pm | Syed Miraz Ahmed
The Corbett Foundation, Kaziranga Chapter in association with the Kaziranga National Park authorities celebrated World Elephant Day at Bokakhat today. World Elephant Day is an international annual...

Setback for CBI’s Saradha probe

18 Sep 2014 - 11:33am | AT News
Shankar Baruah’s “unfortunate death” is a set back for CBI probe into the Saradha scam where the former DGP was an accused. Barua, who shot himself to death on Wednesday, was an important part of the...

Other Contents by Author

Wanna do online journalism? You can do if you are confident and workaholic. Need only an online training. We at Assam Times are ready to help you translate your dream in this roaring job. Come January 1, 2018. Register now for online course free of cost and get the advantage. Manned by a team of sharp and dedicated journos of international repute we are coming up from the new years day.  
Yet another witch hunting incident fans no less shock and anger across the on Monday two days after it came to light. The incident took place at a remote helmet in Chirang district bordering Bhutan where thr body of the victim was recovered on Saturday. Identified as Guneswar Basumatary, the local resident of Koila Moila near Dotom was believed to have been killed alleging witch craft.  According to family members,Guneswar went missing on September 16 evening he visited his relative's house at Koila Moila area. Family members lodged an FIR with Amguri PS,case number 45/2017, under section 302/201 IPC. During a search operation, police and family members recovered body in decomposed...
A local magistrate in Nagaon on Friday remanded Mithu Roy to two days police custody after the trader was produced before it in connection with the recent incident where he and his associates thrashed four former ULFA rebels who approached him for fund to feed the flood hit people.  According to allegations, he was the main culprit who hired a few local associates to beat up the youths who were raising fund.  He was arrested on Thursday as he was on the run as police arrested his three associates on Wednesday afternoon.  Meanwhile, a huge gathering in the central Assam town demanded examplary punishment of the accused youths saying that they...
A candle lighting rally was  carried out at Salakati in protest against killing of ABMSU leader Lafikul. The was organized by ABMSU and was participating by ABSU, AKRSU, bengali Federation, Santhali Student's Union and many organizations. The rally was started from Salakati anchalik Abmsu office and concluded at Railway gate. Thousands housands of activists from various student's union and civilians participated and demanded early arrests of main culprits.The ABMSU demanded CBI inquiry into Lafikul murder,arrest main culprits and provide safety and security to the persons of the region. Moinuddin Ali,ABMSU leader said that main culprits should be nabbed  as soon as possible...
United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) said The Nagas Nation has lost a true and uncompromising Nationalist. "In the creation of Western South East Asia geographic identity with an organic soul giving hope to even the smallest nationality of the region opportunity to get just political representation amongst the family of Nations reflects his deep understanding and vision in keeping with his superb statesmanship".  Describing him as a 'Grandee' of the indigenous citizens of the WESEA region, ULFA(I) chairman Dr Abhizeet Asom in his condolence message to media said "as the Chairman of United Liberation Front of Western South East Asia, he brought an affinity amongst the...
Amid an escalating controversy over beef consumption, yet another leader has quit BJP in Meghalaya suggesting a setback for the saffron party in the pre poll political landscape.  North Garo Hills BJP president Bachu Marak pulled out of the party after the national party spokesman Nolin Kohli warned him against a beef party in Tura to celebrate the three years of the NDA government at the Centre. Marak, who pulled many people to BJP in the Congress ruled state rued in his resignation letter to state party president Sjibun Lyngdoh made it plain and simple that he would never go against the sentiment of the  Garo people for whom beef is an inevitable item at any feast. He...
A crucial meeting of BPF and AGP leadership with Amit Shah is clearing the decks for the expansion of Sarbananda Sonowal cabinet slated for April 15. Senior BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma along with AGP president Atul Bora, his BPF counterpart Hagrama Mohilary is meeting the BJP president in New Delhi on Monday where the entire process would be finalized. Sources told www.Assam Times that Bongaigaon legislator Phani Bhushan Chaudhury is likely to be inducted in the cabinet from AGP. Both AGP and BPF will have one each in the cabinet while BJP will have six new faces in the expanded cabinet. Those who are attending the close door meet include Hagrama Mohilary, Arul Bora, Hemant Biswa...
In a bizarre incident that triggers statewide anger and surprise, the police have arrested a top ranked officer in Dispur on bribery charges on Tuesday before recovering more than Rs 1 crore from his possession.He is none other than Kujendra Doley, the irrigation secretary who alleged to have been collecting lakhs of rupees from the contractors for releasing their bills.Acting on a complaint from a contractor, the sleuths of the vigilance and anti corruption cell caught the secretary red handed and seized an astronomical amount of money from his office locker he allegedly to pay minister Ranjit Dutta.Then Doley was taken to his residence in the city and Rs 10 lakh were seized in cash during...