The globally important forests of the Eastern Himalaya are among the last large tracts of wilderness in Asia, yet have remained relatively isolated and unexplored. Implementing conservation here is challenging, not least because hunting is still v...

Hornbills in Arunachal Pradesh face significant threats from hunting and habitat loss. The last two decades has seen rapid loss of lowland forests around Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary in western Arunachal Pradesh in north-east India, which is a haven for hornbills. This has resulted in increased competition for nests amongst different hornbill species and decline in abundances at roost sites, which are now vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbances. However, a considerably large forest area (> 1000 sq.km) still persists adjacent to Pakke WS harboring suitable hornbill habitat.

This project aims to involve the Ghora-Aabhe council comprised of village headmen of the local Nyishi community and Arunachal Pradesh Forest Department in finding nests in the Reserve Forests adjacent to Pakke WS. Local villagers will also be involved in regular monitoring and protection of nests.

Nests of all the four species of hornbills found in Pakke WLS, (the Great Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill, Rufous-necked Hornbill and Oriental Pied Hornbill) are available for adoption. Till 2010, we had found 33 nests of hornbills which were mostly inside Pakke WS. In the 2011 breeding season, with the participation and interest shown by the Nyishi villagers, 9 new nests of three hornbill species (Great, Wreathed and Oriental Pied Hornbill) have been located and monitored in the Reserved Forests around Pakke WS.

This collaborative project, initiated in January 2006, has been exploring the molecular phylogeny of the sinica group of the genus Macaca, consisting of five species, in general and those of the bonnet macaque and the newly-discovered Arunachal macaque, in particular.

We have recently developed a research programme to investigate the demography, behavioural ecology and conservation status of a highly-endangered primate community, consisting of four macaque species in Assam. 

We have recently described a primate from Arunachal Pradesh, the Arunachal macaque (with the scientific name Macaca munzala), which is a species new to science.

Community welfare is an important component of the conservation program because of the way in which it can affect conservation outcomes. The two priority needs of the Lisu community were better access to formal primary education and health care. We helped set up Kindergarten schools in several villages and have also been providing medical aid since 2003 and put in place a health care program run by a local village youth.

Wildlife population monitoring is an important component of a conservation program. In the Namdapha National Park, a major threat is hunting: therefore we have focused on establishing its impacts on wildlife populations. The species most affected by hunting –terrestrial mammals– were the target groups for monitoring. We aim to use this research to evaluate the progress of our community-based conservation initiatives: we expect that reduction in hunting will result in recovery of animal populations.

 Namdapha National Park located in the Indo-Myamar biodiversity hotspot encompasses a wide altitudinal range with habitats ranging from lowland evergreen forests to alpine meadows. It harbours unparalled floral and faunal diversity. We acquired satellite imageries of Namdapha and its surrounding landscape to assess changes in forest cover between 1999 and 2005 to establish baselines and understand human impacts on the park.

The five hornbill species that occur in Arunachal are greatly dependent on threatened primary forests. Hornbills are also important in local tribal heritage, however the market/ritual value of their feathers, beaks, and flesh renders them vulnerable to hunting. 

In this program, we are attempting to address conservation needs in the biodiversity hotspot of Arunachal Pradesh by focusing on ways of integrating indigenous people into a range of activities to monitor, value, and conserve wildlife and their habitats. We are presently working in the forests of Namdapha, and have also been monitoring hornbill populations in the Pakke Tiger Reserve.

Arunachal Pradesh is arguably the richest biodiversity region of India. After discovering a unique diversity of wildlife in western Arunachal's high altitudes, we have worked with the local government to establish the first high altitude wildlife reserve of the state.

The eastern Himalayan Arunachal Pradesh is India's biological frontier, where much remains to be explored and described.During our biological expeditions in the high altitudes of western Arunachal Pradesh, we stumbled upon an amazing diversity of life, including the Arunachal macaque, a monkey whose existence was thus far unknown to science.