22nd December, 2021
Eaglenest or Eagle’s Nest Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area of India in the Himalayan foothills of West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh.Altitude ranges are extreme: from 500 metres to 3,250 metres.
It derives its name from Red Eagle Division of the Indian army which was posted in the area in the 1950s.
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.
Eagle Nest’s Wildlife Sanctuary prime draw is that it is considered amongst the topmost birding destinations in the World -a birding paradise ( some species found nowhere else in the country) with the checklist growing faster than the expectations of the birding enthusiasts.
A unique feature of this sanctuary is that within itself the entire elevational range is covered containing all habitats and species. There is wealth of learning with the abundance of birds and wildlife in this zone free of noise with pristine woods.
There is abundance of bird species -about two dozen babbler, more than 20 types of warbler, sunbirds, flycatchers (ultramarine, slaty blue, white gorgeted,sapphire, dark sided), variety of woodpeckers, laughing thrush etc. Above all, a glimpse of Bugun liocichla ( new species to science recently discovered), Ward’s tragon, Mrs. Gould’s sunbird not only uplifts the mood but is considered a highlight in any bird watcher’s checklist. Winter’s in Eaglenest with lush evergreen forests & stunning landscapes is spectacularly beautiful.
This unique sanctuary gained more prominence in 2006 with the rare discovery of Bugun Liochichla, a rare bird by Dr Ramana Athreya, an ornithologist and Head and co-ordinator, Biodiversity Research and Conservation, in the area. Dr Athreya started working here since 2003 by involving the local community members. This species of bird is found only here in the entire world. The locals don’t have its name as they have not seen this bird in the past, informed Indi Glow, the head of Singchung Community Reserve Forest.
This discovery of Bugun Liochichla was described as the most sensational ornithological discovery in India during the last fifty years for which he was awarded several prizes including Pakhishree Award and Whitley Award for his endevour in conservation and motivation of local communities.
The Buguns who were till recently hunters like many co-tribes of the state have now completely given up hunting and turned preservers of wildlife. many of them have been absorbed in patrolling jobs, as tour guides and tour operators.
