Camera traps are used across the Elopa–Etugu Community Eco-Cultural Preserve (EECEP) Community Conservation Area to monitor wildlife and track changes in animal populations over time. By placing cameras in both forest and grassland habitats, we can understand how species respond to community-led protection, habitat management, and ecological restoration efforts.
Since 2020, EECEP has conducted bi-annual monitoring of terrestrial mammals and birds using camera traps. These surveys have recorded 42 species of medium-to-large mammals and six species of Galliformes, making EECEP one of the richest mammal habitats in the country. This long-term monitoring helps us understand trends in species presence, behaviour, and habitat use, and provides early insights into how the ecosystem is recovering, and helps us make better decisions for wildlife and habitat management.
Survey results show increasing populations of several species. Himalayan serow and brush-tailed porcupine populations have doubled, while grassland species such as hog deer and Indian hare have tripled over the monitoring period. Populations of endangered species, including the clouded leopard, Asiatic golden cat, Malayan sun bear, and hoolock gibbon, have remained stable. These positive trends indicate the success of ongoing habitat protection and ecological restoration within EECEP.
The project supports community leadership in conservation and strengthens community participation for informed and adaptive management, helping ensure the long-term protection and restoration of EECEP’s landscapes.
About Dibang Team
The Dibang Team is a collective of Idu Mishmi people from the twin districts of the Dibang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh, India. We have been working to conserve the region’s bio-cultural diversity while creating sustainable livelihoods. We combine Western science with Idu knowledge, culture, and spirituality to strengthen our cultural and traditional institutions, ensuring that the region’s biocultural diversity continues to thrive for generations.