Pakke Tiger Reserve

Pakke Tiger Reserve

State : Arunachal Pradesh Area : 860 sq. km Altitude: 80 - 1,220 m Vegetation : Tropical Evergreen

One of India’s lesser known Tiger Reserves, Pakke is mesmerizingly beautiful and a very important biodiversity zone. Pakke is linked with Assam’s Nameri Tiger reserve 

Pakke Tiger reserve, located in Western Arunachal Pradesh on the border with Assam, is an unspoilt, beautiful forest of exceptional biodiversity. It still remains ‘out of the way’ of popular travel routes, though Pakke is only 2.5h drive from Kaziranga National Park and 1.5h away from Nameri National Park.

Pakke is also known for its amazing sightings of resident hornbill species. Known as the valley of Hornbills, it is a paradise for viewing three species of hornbills (Great Indian Hornbill, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill). The experience of watching the ‘swoosh’ of hornbills flying overhead to their roost in the evening is a sight not to be missed. Pakke is also home to exotic species such as the Ibisbill and the White-winged Wood Duck. 

The 860 km2 area of Pakke was declared a tiger reserve in 2002. It is part of the Kameng Protected Area which is probably the largest continuous forest area that includes Nameri, Sonai Ruapai in Assam, as well as Eaglenest and Sessa in Arunachal. Bounded by the Kemeng River in the west, Pakke River in the East and the boundary with Assam in the south, Pakke is blessed with dark green vegetation and little rivulets crossing into narrow clearings. The lower areas of the reserve are covered with swampy rainforests, great sized trees like the Hoolock, Bola and giant sized Bamboos, orchids and abundant undergrowth.

Visiting Local Tribes

A visit to Pakke can not be complete without visiting the villages of the local Nyishi tribes.

The Nyishi is a branch of the Indo-Mangoloid group . The Nyishi tribes could be identified by their code of dressing is followed by this community. Both men and women keep long hair. 

Nyishi men knot their hair above the forehead and tie it with a cane cap which is called Bopia. They are fond of carrying a smoking pipe and a long sharp knife which is known as long Dao. They wear cane bands around the waist. They believe that after death the spirit of a dead travels to the 'village of the ancestors'.

A visit to their villages is an opportunity to have a glimpse of their life and see the local cane and bamboo crafting.  Members of most households craft products for personal use of everyday accessories like market bags made of cane and bamboo, oryok (a carry knife), galles (hand woven wrap around skirts), naraa (cane woven bags for men and dharees (bamboo mats)  etc.

Fauna : The local fauna includes tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, jungle cat, wild dog, fishing cat, jackal, Indian fox, Himalayan black bear, Biturong, elephant, gaur, Sambhar, Hog deer, barking deer, slow Loris, wild boar, yellow throated martin, Malayan Giant squirrel, flying squirrel, squirrel, civet, capped Langur, Rhesus macaque, Assamese Macaque etc.  

Avifauna : At least 296 bird species have been recorded including the globally endangered white-winged wood duck, the unique ibisbill, and the rare Oriental bay owl. It is a good place to see hornbills. Jerdon's baza, pied falconet, white-cheeked hill-partridge, grey peacock-pheasant, elwe's crake, ibisbill, Asian emerald cuckoo, red-headed trogon, green pigeon spp., forest eagle owl, wreathed hornbill, great hornbill.