Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary

Why in News?

Recently, the Arunachal Pradesh government has permitted the capture of a tiger after it fatally attacked a police head constable inside Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary.

• Location – Lower Dibang Valley District, Arunachal Pradesh.
• Establishment – 1980
• Under – The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Altitude – 400 m to 3568 m.
• Vegetation –
  • Tropical Evergreen Forests (up to 900 m)
  • Sub-Tropical & Temperate Forests (900–1800 m)
  • Temperate Broadleaf Forests (1800–2800 m)
  • Temperate Conifer Forests (2800–3500 m)
• Rivers – It includes perennial rivers, namely the Deopani, Diphu, and Ahupani, Enjopan and Jowe, which are part of the Brahmaputra River System.
• Lakes – Sally Lake and Mehao Lake.
• Flora – Trees – Hollock, Khokan, Mekai, Simul, Titachampa, Gamari, Albizia, Magnolia, Ficus.
• Bamboo & Canes – Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, Dendrocalamus giganteus, Phyllostachys bambusoides, other cane varieties.
• Medicinal plants – Coptis teeta (endemic) and Taxus baccata.
• Orchids – Rich diversity of orchid species.
• Fauna – Mammals –Tiger, Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Hoolock Gibbon, Elephant, Gaur, Sambar.
• High-altitude mammals – Red Panda, Musk Deer, Mishmi Takin, Serow, Goral, Snow Leopard.
• Birds – ~200 species, including Hornbills and Pheasants.
• Reptiles – King Cobra, Python, Pit Viper.
• Tribal Influence – Area predominantly inhabited by the Idu Mishmi and Adi tribes.
• Significance – It is a high-priority site for biodiversity conservation in the Eastern Himalayas.
• The sanctuary's habitat remains mostly intact, with about 70% mixed forest coverage.

References

1. NewsHub | Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary
2. Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary