Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary

Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, spans about 217 to 218 square kilometers in the Himalayan foothills with altitudes ranging from 500 to 3,250 meters. It borders Sessa Orchid Sanctuary and Pakhui Tiger Reserve and forms part of the Kameng Elephant Reserve.

The sanctuary is notable for its extraordinary biodiversity, especially as a world-renowned birding destination hosting over 450 bird species, including rare ones like the Bugun liocichla, rufous-necked hornbill, and Blyth’s tragopan. Its forests transition from tropical to subtropical with diverse vegetation, and it is home to mammals such as clouded leopards, red pandas, Asiatic elephants, and the endangered Arunachal macaque.

The sanctuary features scenic ridges, mini waterfalls, and the Kameng River flowing through lush forest canopy. Named after the Red Eagle Division of the Indian Army once stationed there, Eaglenest is accessible via an unpaved road that enables ecotourism and research across its varied altitude zones, making it a vital conservation and wildlife hotspot in northeast India.

It is also part of the largest contiguous forest tract in Arunachal Pradesh, contributing significantly to regional biodiversity and protection efforts.