Dibrugarh: In a significant boost to wildlife conservation efforts in northeastern India, the D Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary (DEMWS), located near Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh, has officially recorded the sighting of an adult Royal Bengal tiger after a gap of more than two decades. The discovery was made through camera trap surveys conducted with technical support from the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE).
Historic Photographic Evidence
This sighting carries immense importance given the sanctuary's troubled history with its tiger population. While officials confirmed that the last verified tiger presence inside DEMWS was in 2005, with only unverified sightings reported in 2007-08, a baseline survey published by the World Wide Fund for Nature in 2014 had painted a grim picture. That survey reported zero pugmarks or camera trap evidence of tigers, citing rampant poaching as the likely cause of their absence.
Although earlier surveillance rounds had failed to yield any proof of the big cat in the sanctuary, forest officials over the past year had observed indirect signs suggesting possible tiger movement within the vicinity. Divisional Forest Officer Kempi Ete described the sighting as "deeply moving."
"The return of the tiger, after nearly two decades, reflects the resilience of the ecosystem and the cumulative impact of sustained conservation efforts on the ground," Ete said, crediting frontline forest staff, eco-development committees, and local community organizations for their sustained role in protecting the landscape.
Scientific and Community Impact
Rajkamal Goswami of ATREE called the image a "historic photographic evidence" and expressed hope that the sighting will lead to renewed focus on scientific monitoring and stronger institutional support for the sanctuary. Mebo MLA Oken Tayeng, while calling the tiger sighting a "healthy sign" of improved ecological conditions, added that it could boost tourism and create livelihood opportunities for youth in fringe villages.
Tayeng's earlier proposal to reintroduce the rhinoceros in the sanctuary has been included in the state budget by Chief Minister Pema Khandu as part of various other plans to develop DEMWS into a major biodiversity and eco-tourism destination.
Additional Discoveries
Besides the tiger sighting, the recent survey also documented the critically endangered Chinese Pangolin and the rare endangered Hispid Hare, further highlighting the sanctuary's ecological recovery.
