FLORA AND FAUNA OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH

 

Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, North East India boasts the most beauteous land for a peaceful recess. The richness of natural beauty, the serenity of eastern Himalayas , and the exotic flora and fauna of Arunachal Pradesh makes this place an indispensable location for the development of eco-tourism. Arunachal Pradesh is most famous for exquisitely beautiful blossoms experienced by the land. The state is renowned for the rare species of flora and fauna that grows here.

Arunachal Pradesh is also called as the “Orchid’s Paradise” because of the amazing breeds of orchids growing in this region. The region is also referred to as a treasure trove of ecological biodiversity as it is home to a diverse range of animals and also because of it’s rich resources of flora and fauna. The animals has a religious significance and has relation with socio-culture life of the people. Elephants and tigers abound ,especially in the grassy and foothills and the leopard and jungle cat are quite common. The white browed gibbon is found in Tirap and Lohit districts and red pandas and musk deer in the higher ranges. It is also the happy home of the great Indian hornbill. 

Arunachal Pradesh, home of high biodiversity and endemism is a predominantly mountain-ous state and is home to many endemic, endangered and threatened species like white-winged wood duck, hornbills, red panda ,Gee’s golden langur, taxus wallichiana(used as a most effective drug in cancer) and clouded leopard. Owing to its high economic demand, unsustainable extraction and over harvesting, the species ranked in the endangered category and is at risk of extinction in Arunachal Himalaya.  Activities like overexploitation amlify the impact of climate change on its biodiversity. Moreover, consumption of fruits by birds, monkeys , rats , etc is causing regeneration failure.

Owing to it’s location amid the foothills of the Himalayas , Arunachal Pradesh is one of the richest states in the region in terms of biodiversity. The state’s climatic conditions facilitate the growth of a vast variety of plants and trees in the territory, thereby providing a rich store of fauna to the region. Various different species of animals add to its rich biodiversity.