Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary

Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary is a biodiverse haven located in the Papum Pare district of Arunachal Pradesh, encompassing an area of approximately 140.3 square kilometers.

Established in 1978, the sanctuary was created to conserve the rich flora and fauna surrounding the capital city of Itanagar. Bounded by the Pam River to the east, Pachin in the south, Neorochi in the northeast, and the Chingke stream in the north, the sanctuary features hilly terrain and dense forests that fall under tropical semi-evergreen and wet evergreen categories.

The sanctuary is home to a wide array of wildlife, including tigers, leopards, clouded leopards, Asian elephants, gaur, sloth bears, barking deer, and marbled cats. It also shelters primates like capped langurs and slow lorises, and is a vital habitat for the state bird—the hornbill—as well as the endangered white-winged duck.

The forest canopy is rich with species such as Duabanga grandiflora, Amoora wallichii, Toona ciliata, Magnolia, Schima wallichii, and Castanopsis indica1. Despite its ecological importance, the sanctuary faces threats from illegal hunting, encroachment, and habitat degradation due to human activity.

Conservation efforts continue, with local organizations advocating for sustainable protection measures.