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Home Of Cat Family
Arunachal Pradesh is perhaps the only State in India, which has four
major Cats, i.e. Tiger (Panthera Tigris), Leopard (Panthera Pardus),
Clouded Leopard (Neofelis Nebulosa) and Snow Leopard (Panthera Uncia).
Lesser Cats like the Golden Cat, Leopard Cat and the Marbled Cat are also
found over here.
Seven species of primates i.e. Hoolock Gibbon, Slow Loris, Assamese
Macaque, Rhesus Macaque, Pig-Tailed Macaque, Stump-Tailed Macaque, and
Capped Langur also occur in the forests of the State. This is the only
state where all the 3 Goat Antelopes occurring in India, i.e. Serow, Goral
and Takin are found. The highly endangered hispid hare (caprolagus
hispidus) is also found in low grassy areas of the State.
Among the smaller mammals several Rodents such as Squirrel, Porcupine and
Rats, Civets, Mongoose, Linsang, Shrew and Bat species are also to be
found. On higher elevations, animals like Goral, Himalayan Black Bear, Red
Panda, are met with in various parts of the State.
Avifauna
Over 500 bird species inhabit Arunachal Pradesh including some endangered
and endemic ones like, White Winged Wood Duck, Sclater's Monal, Temmincks
Tragopan, Black Necked Crane, Mishmi Wren and Bengal Florican.
Mithun
The 'Mithun' (Bos Frontails) exist both in wild and semi-domesticated
form. This animal has religious significance and intimate relation with
socio-cultural life of the people. Traditionally, the Mithun is a unit of
wealth and is allowed to move freely in jungle till it is either used for
food on festive occasions and marriage feasts, or for barter.
Hornbills
Arunachal Pradesh is also the happy home of the great Indian Hornbills -
the set of extraordinary bird with an inordinately large beak, which is
also the State bird. The white winged wood duck, a rare endangered
species, has been sheltered in Namdapha National Park. Namdapha sanctuary
was upgraded to the status of National park in 1983.
Pheasants
This is the richest State for Pheasants, with some ten species occupying
different altitudes from the plains to the snowy heights. The state also
abounds in a variety of Reptiles, Amphibians, Fishes and innumerable
species of Butterflies, Moths, Beetles and other insects.
