>BrownHairedGirl at 04:04, 26 March 2021

2021-03-26T04:04:58Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary
| iucn_category = IV
| photo = Eaglenest-forests.jpg
| photo_alt =
| photo_caption =View of Eaglenest forest canopy
| photo_width =
| map = India |relief=1
| location = [[West Kameng]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[India]]
| nearest_city =
| coordinates = {{coords|27|06|0|N|92|24|0|E|display=inline, title}}
| area = {{convert|218|km2}}
| established = 1989
| visitation_num = 75
| visitation_year = 2006
| governing_body = [https://web.archive.org/web/20120320144930/http://arunachalpradesh.nic.in/tourism.htm Government of Arunachal Pradesh]
}}

'''Eaglenest or Eagle's Nest Wildlife Sanctuary''' is a [[Protected areas of India|protected area of India]] in the [[Himalaya#Midlands|Himalayan foothills]] of [[West Kameng District]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]]. It conjoins [[Sessa Orchid Sanctuary]] to the northeast and [[Pakhui Tiger Reserve]] across the [[Kameng river]] to the east. Altitude ranges are extreme: from {{convert|500|m|ft|0}} to {{convert|3250|m|ft|0}}.<ref>See [http://www.clsp.jhu.edu/people/zak/ramana/wapLocEaglenest.htm#EaglenestMap Map 1] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070918192235/http://www.clsp.jhu.edu/people/zak/ramana/wapLocEaglenest.htm |date=2007-09-18 }}, [[:Image:Eaglenest Topo.jpg|Topo map]]</ref> It is a part of the [[Kameng Elephant Reserve]].

Eaglenest is notable as a prime [[birding]] site due to the extraordinary variety, numbers and accessibility of species.

Eaglenest derives its name from [[4th Infantry Division (India)|Red Eagle Division]] of the [[Indian army]] which was posted in the area in the 1950s.<ref>Athreya Ramana (3/13/2005) Kaati Trust, Pune [http://www.clsp.jhu.edu/people/zak/ramana/wapLocEaglenest.htm Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070918192235/http://www.clsp.jhu.edu/people/zak/ramana/wapLocEaglenest.htm |date=2007-09-18 }}</ref>

== Geography and climate ==
Eaglenest and Sessa Orchid Sanctuary together occupy a rough east–west rectangle with Sessa occupying the northeast quadrant. Eaglenest is bounded to the north by Eaglenest Ridge and the reserved forests of the [[Bugun]] community (Lama Camp area). Eaglenest adjoins [[Tawang district]] to the north. The Bhalukpong–Bomdila highway (and Pakke immediately beyond) are its eastern boundary. There are no distinct geographical features delineating its western boundary along the Bhutan border and the southern boundary at about 27° N latitude.

Eaglenest and Sessa ridges rise to {{convert|3250|m|ft|0}} and {{convert|3150|m|ft|0}} respectively and are the first major barriers to the [[monsoon]] as it moves north from the plains of Assam. These ridges get over {{convert|3000|mm|in}} of rain on the southern slopes and about {{convert|1500|mm|in}} on the northern ones.<ref name="Choudhury A.U. 2003">Choudhury A.U. (2003). Birds of Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary and Sessa Orchid Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh, India. ''Forktail'' 19:1-13</ref>

The eastern half of Eaglenest and Sessa sanctuaries is drained by the Tippi Naala (Tippi river) which joins the Kameng river at Tippi village on the Bhalukpong–Bomdila highway. Several smaller streams including Buhiri Nadi and Dihung Nadi in the western half of the area flow down to join the Brahmaputra separately.<ref>[http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/india/ng-46-02.jpg Topographic map]</ref><ref>Army Map Service, Corps of Engineers (1955) Series U502, Sheet NG-46-2, Towang, India; Bhutan; China, topographic map 1:250,000, retrieved 10/2/2007 [http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/india/ng-46-02.jpg Topographic map]</ref>

Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary is part of the Kameng protected area complex (KPAC), the largest contiguous closed-[[Canopy_(biology)#Canopy_layer_of_forests|canopy forest]] tract of Arunachal Pradesh, which includes Eaglenest, Pakke, Sessa, Nameri, and Sonai Rupai sanctuaries and associated reserved forest blocks. The complex covers 3500 km<sup>2</sup> in area and ranges from {{convert|100|m|ft|0}} to {{convert|3300|m|ft|0}} in altitude.
[[File:Eaglenest Topo.jpg|thumb|Topography of Eaglenest <br />and Sessa Sanctuaries]]
Eaglenest has an unpaved road running from its base to Eaglenest pass at {{convert|2800|m|ft|0}} allowing good access to the entire altitudinal range, making it accessible to the military, scientists and ecotourists.<ref>Official website of West Kameng District (6/21/2007) [http://westkameng.nic.in/geography.htm Geography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102052829/http://westkameng.nic.in/geography.htm |date=2007-11-02 }}</ref>

==Fauna==
[[File:BPS 7564 pub1.jpg|thumb|Wards Trogon at Eaglenest Pass]]

===Birds===
[[File:Liocichla bugunorum painting.jpg|thumb| [[Bugun liocichla]] was discovered at Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary in 1995]]
Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary is well known as a major birding area.<ref name="Choudhury A.U. 2003"/> It is home to at least 454 species of birds including 3 [[Phalacrocoracidae|cormorants]], 5 [[Ardeidae|herons]], [[black stork]], [[Threskiornis melanocephalus|Oriental white (black-headed) ibis]], 4 [[Anatidae|ducks]], 20 [[Accipitridae|hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and vultures]], 3 [[Falconidae|falcons]], 10 [[Phasianidae|pheasants, junglefowl, quail, and peafowl]], [[Grus nigricollis|black-necked crane]], 3 [[Rallidae|rails]], 6 [[Charadriidae|plovers, dotterels, and lapwings]], 7 [[Scolopacidae|waders]], [[Ibidorhyncha struthersii|ibisbill]], [[Burhinus oedicnemus|stone-curlew (Eurasian thick-knee)]], [[small pratincole]], 2 [[Laridae|gulls]], 14 [[Columbidae|pigeons]], 3 [[Psittacidae|parrots]], 15 [[Cuculidae|cukoos]], 10 [[Strigidae|owls]], 2 [[Podargidae|nightjars]], 4 [[Apodidae|swifts]], 2 [[Trogonidae|trogons]], 7 [[Alcedinidae|kingfishers]], 2 [[Meropidae|bee-eaters]], 2 [[Coraciidae|rollers]], [[Upupa epops|hoopoe]]s, 4 [[Bucerotidae|hornbills]], 6 [[Capitonidae|barbets]], 14 [[Picidae|woodpeckers]], 2 [[Eurylaimidae|broadbills]], 2 [[Pittidae|pittas]], 2 [[Alaudidae|larks]], 6 [[Hirundinidae|martins]], 7 [[Motacillidae|wagtails]], 9 [[Campephagidae|shrikes]], 9 [[Pycnonotidae|bulbuls]], 4 [[Irenidae|fairy-bluebirds]], 3 [[Laniidae|shrike]], [[brown dipper]], 3 [[accentor]]s, 46 [[thrush (bird)|thrush]]es, 65 [[Old World flycatcher]]s, 6 [[parrotbill]]s, 31 [[warbler]]s, 25 [[Tyrant flycatcher|flycatchers]], 10 [[Paridae|tits]], 5 [[Sittidae|nuthatches]], 3 [[Certhiidae|treecreepers]], 5 [[Dicaeidae|flowerpeckers]], 8 [[Nectariniidae|sunbirds]], [[Indian white-eye]], 3 [[bunting (bird)|bunting]], 14 [[Fringillinae|finches]], 2 [[Estrildidae|munia]], 3 [[Old World sparrow|sparrows]], 5 [[Sturnidae|starlings]], 2 [[Old World oriole|oriole]]s, 7 [[Dicruridae|drongos]], [[ashy woodswallow]] and 9 [[Corvidae|jays]].<ref>Athreya Ramana (4/13/2005) Birds of W. Arunachal Pradesh, Checklist, Kaati Trust, Pune [http://www.clsp.jhu.edu/people/zak/ramana/wapListBird.htm Eaglenest record (E)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808140805/http://www.clsp.jhu.edu/people/zak/ramana/wapListBird.htm |date=2007-08-08 }}</ref> The sanctuary has the distinction of having three [[tragopan]] species, perhaps unique in India.<ref>Choudhury, A.U. (2005). Distribution, status and conservation of galliformes in north-east India. Pp. 38-56 in: Fuller, R.A. & Browne, S.J. (eds) 2005. ''Galliformes 2004. Proceedings of the 3rd International Galliformes Symposium''. World Pheasant Association, Fordingbridge, UK.</ref>

Eaglenest is the site where [[Bugun liocichla]] was first discovered in 1995 and again observed and described in 2006 by Ramana Athreya.<ref>Athreya, R. (9/8/2006) A new species of Liocichla (Aves: Timaliidae) from Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh, India [http://indianbirds.in/pdfs/IB2.4_Athreya_BugunLiocichla.pdf Indian Birds 2 (4): p82-94]</ref>

[[File:Puffball fungai.jpg|thumb|Puffball fundai from Eaglenest]]

===Herpetofauna===
[[File:Ailurus fulgens RoterPanda LesserPanda.jpg|thumb|150px|[[Red panda]]]]
Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a wide variety of [[Herpetology|herpetofauna]] including at least 34 species of [[amphibian]]s, 24 species of [[snake]]s and 7 species of [[lizard]]s including 3 [[gecko]]s, 3 [[agamid]]s and 4 [[skink]]s. [[Mictopholis austeniana|Abor Hills agama]] was rediscovered at Eaglenest after 125 years. Other rare species include the [[Lycodon gammiei|Darjeeling false-wolfsnake]] which was only known to science through five specimens, [[Japalura andersoniana|Anderson's mountain lizard]], [[Oligodon cinereus|Günther's kukri snake]], [[Pareas monticola|common slug snake]], and [[Amphiesma|keelback]] snakes which have not been definitively identified.

===Mammals===
Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary provides habitat to [[clouded leopard]], [[marbled cat]], [[Asian golden cat]] and [[leopard cat]].<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Mukherjee. S. |author2=Choudhary, P. |author3=Athreya, R. |author4=Karunakaran, P. V. |year=2018 |title=A tale of tails – an attempt to decipher small cat distributions by tail lengths |journal=Small Wild Cat Conservation News |issue=Special Issue 1 |pages=11–12 |editor1=Appel, A. |editor2=Mukherjee, S. |editor3=Cheyne, S. M. |url=http://www.smallwildcat.net/}}</ref>
Other mammal species include the [[endangered]] [[capped langur]], [[red panda]], [[Asiatic black bear]] and the [[vulnerable species|vulnerable]], [[Macaca munzala|Arunachal macaque]] and [[gaur]]. It was here that a new taxon of primate was discovered in 1997 by noted [[primatologist]] of northeast India [[Anwaruddin Choudhury|Dr Anwaruddin Choudhury]],<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Rhino Foundation Newsletter|year=2004|volume=6| title=The mystery macaques of Arunachal Pradesh|author=Choudhury, Anwaruddin|pages=21–25|url= https://archive.org/stream/RhinoFoundation#page/n25/mode/1up}}</ref> but he thought it to be a new subspecies of Tibetan or Pere David's macaque.<ref>https://www.britannica.com/animal/Pere-Davids-macaque</ref> It was described as a new species, i.e., Arunachal macaque in 2004.<ref name=Sinha>{{cite journal | author = Sinha, A., Datta, A., Madhusudan, M. D. and Mishra, C. | year = 2005 | title = ''Macaca munzala'': a new species from western Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India | journal = International Journal of Primatology | volume = 26 | issue = 977 | pages = 977–989 | doi = 10.1007/s10764-005-5333-3| citeseerx = 10.1.1.576.1210 }}</ref> The highest elevation, 11,000 ft that the wild Asian elephants reach anywhere is partly in this sanctuary.<ref>Choudhury, A.U. (1999). Status and Conservation of the Asian elephant ''Elephas maximus'' in north-eastern India. ''Mammal Review'' 29(3): 141-173.</ref>

===Butterflies===
[[File:BhutliddCRW 4351.jpg|thumb|150px|[[Bhutan glory]]]]
Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary is home to at least 165 species of butterflies including [[Bhutanitis lidderdalii|Bhutan glory]], [[Bhagadatta austenia|grey admiral]], [[Lethe distans|scarce red-forester]], [[Neope yama|dusky labyrinth]], [[Orinoma damaris|tigerbrown]], [[Stichophthalma camadeva|jungle-queen]] sp, [[white-edged bushbrown]], and [[Neorina patria|white owl]].<ref>Athreya, R. (2006) Eaglenest Biodiversity Project − I (2003–2006): A report submitted to the Forest Department of the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, India, and the Rufford-Maurice-Laing Foundation (UK). Kaati Trust, Pune. [http://www.iiserpune.ac.in/~rathreya/Downloads/athreya2006_ebp.pdf Conservation resources for Eaglenest wildlife sanctuary.]</ref>

==Flora==
[[File:Elephant nettle, Dendrocnide sinuata.jpg|thumb|Elephant nettle at Eaglenest WS]]
In Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary there is a camp named Sessni which in [[People of Nepal|Nepali language]] means nettle. The place is filled with poisonous [[Dendrocnide sinuata|elephant nettle]]s on either side of the road.<ref name="bikram">{{citation|url=http://www.kolkatabirds.com/hillbirdsofind/eaglenesttrip2009.htm|title=In search of the Bugun Liocichla and other parables from Eaglenest|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204233028/http://www.kolkatabirds.com/hillbirdsofind/eaglenesttrip2009.htm|archivedate=2012-02-04}}</ref>

==Conservation==
[[File:BlythsTragopan.jpg|thumb|150px|[[Blyth's tragopan]]]]
Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary is physically protected from timber and animal [[poaching]] only by its isolation and the poor quality of the one lane road leading inside it. It is administered by the Divisional Forest Officer, Shergaon Forest Division, Rupa (Millo Tasser, [[Indian Forest Service|IFS]]). He is assisted by a Range Forest Office in Singchung and Beat Forest Offices in Ramalingam (close to Singchung) and Khellong. The absence of any settlement inside Eaglenest has minimized any problem of hunting.

The [[Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund]] (CEPF), a consortium of major international and regional organizations, has identified the [[Eastern Himalaya|Eastern Himalayan region]] around Arunachal Pradesh ([[Nepal]], [[Bhutan]] and all of [[Northeast India]]) as a critical global biodiversity rich area deserving of conservation focus. They identified the North Bank Landscape (i.e., north bank of Brahmaputra, extending up the Eaglenest slopes) and the [[Tawang]] region as worthy of particular focus.<ref>Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, Project database [http://www.cepf.net/xp/cepf/project_database/eastern_himalayas.xml Eastern Himalayas Region Strategic Directions] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071108132103/http://www.cepf.net/xp/cepf/project_database/eastern_himalayas.xml |date=2007-11-08 }}</ref>

Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary is in the [[Conservation International]] [[Himalaya]] [[Biodiversity Hotspot]] area.<ref>Conservation International (2007) Himalaya - conservation action and protected areas, retrieved 10/1/2007 [http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/hotspots/himalaya/Pages/conservation.aspx Himalaya - conservation action and protected areas] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109032016/http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/hotspots/himalaya/Pages/conservation.aspx |date=2007-11-09 }}</ref>

[[BirdLife International]] has designated Eaglenest and Sessa sanctuaries as an Important Bird Area (IBA IN344), with [[Blyth's tragopan]] identified as a [[vulnerable species]] of the area.<ref>BirdLife International (2006) BirdLife IBA Factsheet, retrieved 10/1/2007 [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sites/index.html?action=SitHTMDetails.asp&sid=18041&m=0 IN344 Eaglenest and Sessa Sanctuaries]</ref>

This area is extremely important for the continued well-being of the [[Asian elephant]]. Elephants regularly move up from the Assam plains to the Eaglenest ridge at 3250 m in summer, perhaps the highest altitude that elephants reach in India. Extensive clearing of forests through illegal encroachments in Assam adjacent to Eaglenest has exacerbated elephant-human conflict in the plains; it has also meant that elephants now have to stay longer in the Eaglenest area and may lead to depletion of their food resource by dominating the rate of regeneration.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* [http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/search.php?action=searchresult&Bird_ID=2795 Bugun Liocichla Liocichla bugunorum - Male]
* [https://lists.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind9608&L=NATHISTORY-INDIA&P=R1290&I=-3 Ramana Athreya's trip report in 1996 describing the new species]
* [http://www.aoc.nrao.edu/~sbhatnag/Nature/warunachal/wapMiscEaglenestBP.htm The Eaglenest Biodiversity project]
* [http://www.bnhs.org/article.php?cid=Nzc%3D&sid=Mjgx&aid=Mjgx&t=Mg%3D%3D The Bugun Liocichla, Discovery of new Bird Species in India: BNHS]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

==External sources==
{{Commons category|position=left|Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary}}
Butterflies from Eaglenest-Sessa-Pakke [https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150231346097614.279016.532067613&type=1 72 photographs]<br />
Pictures from Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary [https://web.archive.org/web/20120330161054/http://www.landofthewild.com/showPlaces.php?&pageNo=&albumId=353&albumTitle=North%20East - Wildlife Photographs]

{{Arunachal Pradesh|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries in Arunachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Bird sanctuaries of India]]
[[Category:West Kameng district]]
[[Category:Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests]]
[[Category:Himalayan subtropical pine forests]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1989]]
[[Category:1989 establishments in Arunachal Pradesh]]

Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary - Revision history

>BrownHairedGirl at 04:04, 26 March 2021