Tiger returns to Arunachal sanctuary after two decades

Guwahati language

The camera sighting of a tiger for the first time in almost two decades at the D’Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh has delighted wildlife enthusiasts, conservationists and officials.

190 square meters. km. The sanctuary near Pasighat, the East Siang district headquarters, where the species was believed to have disappeared years ago. The first camera trap photo of the striped cat enabled its return to the protected area.

The sanctuary is named after former Union Minister and chairman of the Ering Commission, Daying Ering, who influenced the Panchayati Raj system in India.

Regional Forest Officer Kempi Ete said forest officials and frontline staff had documented indirect signs of tiger presence last year. Multiple rounds of systematic monitoring and camera capture were conducted to confirm these observations.

Although earlier efforts had yielded no photographic evidence, monitoring continued with renewed intensity and persistence. In the final phase of the research, camera traps installed at strategic locations successfully captured images of a tiger, conclusively establishing the tiger’s presence in the landscape.

Other animals, including the critically endangered Chinese pangolin and the endangered hare, were also recorded in the studies, which were carried out with technical support from the Ashoka Research Foundation for Ecology and Environment (ATREE).

“The tiger’s return after almost two decades reflects the resilience of the ecosystem and the cumulative impact of sustained conservation efforts on the ground. This success belongs equally to our forest officials, frontline staff, members of the Eco-Development Committee and community-based organizations who continually support conservation initiatives on the ground,” said Ms. Ete.

Local MLA Oken Tayeng said the tiger’s return was a “healthy sign” and indicated that ecological conditions in the sanctuary had improved. This could improve tourism prospects and create employment opportunities for young people living in villages around the protected area, he said.

The tiger, an apex predator, is an indicator of ecosystem health and habitat integrity, underscoring the conservation value of the sanctuary’s unique riparian and grassland ecosystems.

“This photographic evidence of a tiger and other highly threatened mammals is a testament to the long-standing conservation efforts of the staff of D’Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary since its inception,” said Rajkamal Goswami, who leads ATREE’s biodiversity and biological resource conservation initiatives in Arunachal Pradesh.