Pakhui Tiger Reserve, Tiger reserve in East Kameng, India.
Pakhui Tiger Reserve is a protected forest zone in the East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, where dense rainforests, open grasslands, and wetlands lie at elevations reaching 2040 meters. The area includes several rivers flowing through deep valleys, while forested slopes rise toward mountain ridges.
The Indian government created the protected area in 1966 as a measure to conserve populations of Bengal tigers and other large mammals across the eastern Himalayan foothills. Over the following decades, boundaries expanded and patrols were introduced to reduce poaching and safeguard forest resources.
The Bugun and Miji live in villages scattered near the edge of the protected zone and know the forest trails, plants, and animal habits from long experience. Their homes rest in the valleys where they grow rice and practice crafts rooted in natural materials gathered from the woodland.
Visitors must apply for a permit from the forest department in advance and should plan their journey for the months between October and March, when trails remain passable and animals appear more often near water sources. Guides from nearby villages know the routes and can help choose the right gear for shifting weather conditions.
Over 300 bird species live within the forests, including rare types such as the Bugun liocichla found only in this area. Hoolock gibbons call from the canopy at dawn, while Asiatic black bears forage for fruit and insects across the higher elevations.
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