Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary

Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary and a dedicated Tiger Reserve (also known as the Pakke Tiger Reserve) in the district of East Kameng in Arunachal Pradesh, India. It has an area of over 860 square kilometres and is bordered by the Kameng River and Pakke River, which are important sources of water for the animals and the irrigation of the vegetation. The Pakhui reserve is neighbour to the Nameri Tiger reserve in Assam, making this area a true treasure trove in terms of these spectacular animals.

This area was first declared the Pakke Reserve Forest in July of 1966. Eleven years later, it was named the Camo Sanctuary. Then, in 2002, it was formally christened Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary and Pakke Tiger Reserve. The Tiger Reserve was declared by and is managed under the Project Tiger initiative that is administered by the Government of India for the protection and preservation of Royal Bengal Tigers. These animals have suffered major depletions of their population numbers as a result of extensive poaching and a loss of habitat due to human encroachment. Some of the main types of vegetation making up the landscape of Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary are Lowland Semi-India evergreen, Secondary Moist Bamboo Tract, swampy forests, Upper Assam Valley Tropical Evergreen Forest, Tropical Revering Forest and Eastern Himalayan Broadleaf Forest. These different faunal categories depend much on the altitude, which ranges from 100 metres to 2000 metres above sea level. At each major increment, a new combination of plants and animals occupy the land and thrive off the conditions of this particular altitude.

When visiting Pakhui, guests may expect to see a wide array of exciting animals. Apart from the popular Bengal Tiger, these include the Indian or Asian Elephant, Gaur, Hog Deer, Barking Deer, Himalayan Black Bear, Indian Fox, Fishing Cat, Clouded Leopard, Cobra, Common Leopard, Bison, Assamese Macaque, Capped Langur, Civet, Flying Squirrel, Python, Slow Loris and more. Bird enthusiasts will be rewarded by probable sightings of the Jungle Fowl, White-winged Wood Duck, Hornbill, Barbet, Serpent Eagle, Baaz Eagle and Drongo.
Tourists can access the Pakhui Wildlife Reserve and Pakke Tiger Sanctuary via air (Tezpur Airport), rail (Rangpara Railway Station) and Road (from Tezpur and Bhalukpong).

History :
The area of present Pakke Tiger Reserve was originally constituted as Pakke Reserve Forest on July 1, 1966 and was declared as Camo Sanctuary on March 28, 1977. It was next declared as Pakhui Wildlife sanctuary on April 18, 2002, and was finally declared, as Pakke Tiger Reserve on April 23, 2002 as the twenty sixth tiger reserve under Project Tiger of the National Tiger Conservation Authority.

The forest is filled with wide and colourful varieties of animals and birds. Animals that can be found inside the forest reserve are Tiger, leopard, clouded Leopard, jungle cat, wild dog Jackal, Himalayan Black Bear, Biturong, Elephant, Gaur, Samber, Hog deer, Barking Deer, Wilboar, Yellow throated martin, Malayan Giant, squirrel, Flying squirrel, squirrel, civet, capped langur, Rhesus macaque, Assamese Macaque, Bison etc. One can also see beautiful and rare birds like Hornbill, white winged wood duck, Jungle Fowl, Peacock Pheasant, Khaleej Pheasant, Dove, Barbets, Drongo, Serpent eagle, Baaz eagles etc. One can hear the chirping of these colourful birds and enjoy every moment of your trip feeling closer to the nature and its wonders.

Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary has wide area of green covers that includes varieties of trees and flowering plants. One can see a vast variety of bamboo inside the sanctuary. The sanctuary is also termed as “Pakke Tiger Reserve”, as it conserves the Bengal Tiger and a few other tigers. This park forms an integral appendage of the tiger scheme introduced by the Government of India. So pack your bags and visit Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary to feel and observe nature at its best.

Attractions Of Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary In Arunachal Pradesh :
The Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the principle attractions of the state of Arunachal Pradesh. The eastern fringe of the Kameng district houses the Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuarywhich also lies at a stone’s throw from the Seijusa headquarters. A sum total of approximately 862 square kilometers of land had been allocated to the Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh so that all the wild beasts can dwell there without any sort of territory related problems.

Special attractions at the Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary of Arunachal Pradesh are mentioned below:-
- Fishing Cat
- Indian Fox
- Biturong
- Rhesus Macaque
- Malayan Giant
- Slow Loris
- Wilboar
- Yellow Throated Martin
- Flying squirrel
- Squirrel
- Civet
- Capped Langur
- White Winged Wood Duck
- Khaleej Pheasant
- Dove
- Barbets
- Peacock Phesant
- Cobra
- Krait

The Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary at Arunachal Pradesh has been dowered with another name that is ‘Pakke Tiger Reserve’. The park is also blessed with the ominous presence of a throbbing rivulet that spans across it. Other rivers like Kemeng river and the Pakke river also make their way through the periphery of this humongous park.

The Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary of Arunachal Pradesh has another designation that is ‘Camo Sanctuary’; this name was bestowed to this national park on 28th of March, 1977. The park was finally titled as the Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary on the 18th day of April in the year 2002. This park forms an integral appendage of the tiger scheme introduced by the Government of India. The closest air terminal is at Tezpur and you can also opt to travel by a train which is available from the railway station at Rangpara.