Elephant recorded in India’s Namdapha Tiger Reserve after 12 years

In response to the Arunachal Pradesh Forest Division, elephants have historically migrated between the Namsai space of the State and Myanmar by the Namdapha Nationwide Park and Tiger Reserve.
| Photograph Credit score: Particular Association

An elephant has been camera-trapped in India’s easternmost tiger reserve after 12 years, fuelling conservation hopes.

Officers manning the 1,985 sq. km Namdapha Nationwide Park and Tiger Reserve within the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh stated an grownup male elephant was recorded within the Kathan area of Namdapha’s northwestern half.

The park’s Subject Director, V.Okay. Jawal, stated elephants are recognized to forage within the fringe areas of the tiger reserve sometimes, however the presence of 1 deeper contained in the forest was “momentous”.

A workforce led by Mr. Jawal and Biri Karba, the Vary Forest Officer of Namdapha’s Wildlife Vary and Analysis Wing, captured the male elephant on January 13, 2025. The final such sighting was in 2013.

“This sighting is of nice significance, because it gives crucial insights into the presence and motion patterns of elephants within the park. It additionally highlights the essential want for continued patrols in susceptible core boundary areas, notably the Kathan area,” the Subject Director stated.

In response to the Arunachal Pradesh Forest Division, elephants have historically migrated between the Namsai space of the State and Myanmar by the Namdapha Nationwide Park and Tiger Reserve. The route the elephants used to take was Boga Pahad-Bulbulia-Firmbase-Embeyong-52nd Mile Nallah-Kodboi-Myanmar.

Additionally learn: Segur elephant hall | A jumbo proper of passage

The thirty eighth Higher and thirty eighth Decrease areas of Embeyong have been below encroachment since 1996. The 52nd Mile space, from the place the elephants used to cross the Noa-Dehing River to achieve the Kodboi space, can also be below unauthorised occupation, the division acknowledged.

On account of the encroachments, the elephants have remained largely within the northern components of Namdapha, generally venturing into fringe areas, together with Khachang and Songking villages below the Miao Circle, typically inflicting human-elephant battle and financial loss to the villagers, the assertion stated.

Mr. Jawal known as for the communities dwelling across the tiger reserve to work along with the Namdapha authority for wildlife conservation, and the reopening of the elephant corridors.