֍ Pakke Tiger Reserve also known as Pakhui Tiger Reserve, is a Project Tiger reserve in the East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India.
֍ Previously it was declared a Wildlife sanctuary in 2001, and was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2002.
֍ This Tiger Reserve has won India Biodiversity Award 2016 in the category of ‘Conservation of threatened species’ for its Hornbill Nest Adoption Programme.
֍ The sanctuary is delineated by rivers in the east, west and north. In addition, the area is drained by a number of small rivers and, perennial streams of the Bhareli and Pakke Rivers, both of which are tributaries of the Brahmaputra. The main perennial streams in the area are the Nameri, Khari and Upper Dikorai.
֍ The terrain of Pakhui WLS and adjoining areas is undulating and hilly.
֍ Sessa Orchid Sanctuary and Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary are adjacent to Pakke Tiger Reserve on the opposite side of the Kameng River.
Climate
֍ Pakke Tiger Reserve has a subtropical climate with cold weather from November to March.
֍ The temperature varies from 12 to 36 °C.
֍ Annual rainfall is 2,500 millimetres . It receives rainfall predominantly from the south-west monsoon in May to September and north-east monsoon from November to April.
Flora
֍ It includes semi-evergreen, evergreen forest and Eastern Himalayan broad leaf forests.
֍ The general vegetation type of the entire tract is classified as Assam Valley tropical semi-evergreen forest.
֍ The forests are multi-storeyed and rich in epiphytic flora and woody lianas.
֍ The vegetation is dense, with a high diversity and density of woody lianas and climbers.
֍ The forest types include tropical semi-evergreen forests along the lower plains and foothills. These forests have a large number of species of economic value.
֍ Subtropical broadleaved forests of the Fagaceae and Lauraceae dominate the hill tops and higher reaches.
֍ Moist areas near streams have a profuse growth of bamboo, cane and palms.
Fauna
֍ Important mammal species found are Bengal tiger, Indian leopard , clouded leopard , wild dog , Asiatic jackal, elephant, barking deer, gaur, sambar , Rhesus macaque, Assamese macaque , capped langur, yellow-throated marten , Himalayan black bear, binturong, hog deer, barking deer, wild boar, yellow-throated marten, Malayan giant squirrel, flying squirrel,etc.
֍ Among reptiles Assam roof turtle, a highly endangered species, is commonly sighted.
Avifauna
֍ Endangered white-winged wood duck, ibisbill, Oriental bay owl, hornbills , ibisbill , wreathed hornbill, great hornbill, collared broadbill , long-tailed broadbill,etc.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
QUES . In which one of the following States is Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary located? UPSC 2018
(a) Arunachal Pradesh
(b) Manipur
(c) Meghalaya
(d) Nagaland
Ans (a)
