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Namdapha National Park
Namdapha Tiger Reserve is named after the river Namdapha originating from Daphabum, the highest mountain p
eak in the Reserve. Almost the whole of the protected area has a dense cover of vegetation with high hills, and numerous rivers and seasonal streams. Four big cats viz. tiger, leopard, clouded leopard and snow leopard are existing in the Namdapha. Hoolock Gibbon, Golden Cat, Marbled Cat, Mishmi Takin, Red 
Panda, Namdapha Flying Squirrel, White Wing Wood Duck, Namdapha Shortwing Bird are indicative of unique faunal diversity of Namdapha. More than 60 per cent of the area of the PA is virgin and unexplored.It has only one motor-able road, that also up to 40th Mile during winter season.
These bottlenecks and remoteness of the large part of the Reserve act as a natural barrier for its protection but at the same time handicap management activities.
Location of Namdapa National Park : In Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Nearest township, Miao, lies 20km (20 miles) away. Airport is Dibrugarh (140km; 90 miles) has connectins with Calcutta and Guwahati. Most convenient railhead is Margherita, 70kkkm (40 miles) from Namdapha.
Climate of Namdapa National Park : Prolonged monsoon form April till end September. Winter nights bitterly cold, mornings skunny (3°C; 35°F). Mild summers (maximum of 32°C, or 90°F).
When to go ( Namdapa National Park ) : Best time to visit is between November and March.
Getting to Namdapa National Park : Vehicles for hire at Dibrugarh airport. Miao accessible by helicopter from airport; also daily bus service to Miao. Taxis available from town of Dibrugarh. Get Wildindiaguid.com assistance for all land arrangements.
Facilities at Namdapa National Park : Self-catering forest rest house at Deban center(has four rooms overlooking confluence of Debanand Boa Dihing rivers and snowcapped peaks of Daphabum). Deban has canteen facilities.
Visitor Activities in Namdapa National Park : Trekking only way to explore the forest; permission to undertake week-long treks can be obtained in the park, Advisable to carry portable tents. Visitors can rest in temporary bamboo structures made for forest guards. The farthest point, Gandhigram, 102km (60 miles) from Deban, is a paradise for bird-watchers and ornithologists. Tourist should be aware that the wet , tropical vegetation has spawned over 22 species of leech , including the Tiger Lech, they need to be adequately prepared.
Permission and Reservations for Namdapa National Park : Indians require and Inner Line Permit, foreigners require a Restricted Area Permit, from Ministry of External Affairs in the state capital, Itanagar, or any major city. For reservations in Deban forest rest house, contact: The Field Director, Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Miao, Changlang District, Arunachal Pradesh. Wildindiaguid.com will assist you to get permit and all the arrangements.
The National Park::
The National park has amazing biodiversity
Prolific wild cats
Namdapha ntional Park supports eight members of India's wild cat family. They are Tiger, Leopard(Panther), Clouded and Snow Leopard (disputed), and Marbled, Jungle Leopard, and Fishing Cat. Pug marks on the sandy riverbeds indicate their existence in the forest.
The tail of the Clouded Leopard is almost as long as its body; from head to tail this cat measures 1.95 metres (6 feet5 inches). Its colouring varies from earthy to yellowish-brown with, on its flanks, dark blotches separated by paler areas to form a 'clouded' pattern, while the face is marked with the stripes common in smaller cats. This leopard, which hunts by nigh, is limited to the forests of the northeast Himalaya only.
The Snow Leopard, similar in length to the Cluded species, is distinctive in the shortness of its muzzle, its high forehead and vertical chin. Its soft grey coat pales to pure white on the underside, which unbroken sports occur ton the head, nape and lower limbs. It lives above the tree line around 4300 to 6000 metres (14000 to 20000 feet). very March, helping increase visibility of wildlife in the park.
Bird Life
Namdapha's birdlife spans many-hued
species like Niltava, Mrs. Gould's Sunbird, Yellow backed Sunbird, Himalayan Roller, Black Bulbul, Prinia, Red-breasted hornbill. Of the laughing thrush species are the Black Gorgetted, White-crested and Striated species. The most vulnerable dusk species, the White-winged Wood Duck - which has fallen prey to poaching - is a resident bird of the marshes and ponds of Namdapha.The floras: In the lower reaches of the reserve, the vegetation is also varied, with thick and virually impenetrable undergrowth. Extensive stretches are covered with palms, bamboo and woody brakes of cane. Namdapha's unique three storied forest is composed of tall trees like wild Mango, Banana, and Chickoo ( which bears edible, juicy fruit), Bandardiam(Monkeybread tree), Makai (Zizuphus sp. ), Jutuli, Agarwood and the flowering tree Kadamba ((Adina cordifolia). Some commonly occurring fern species include Pteris, Dryteris, Asplenia, Onychium, Aisophila, and Gleichnia. There is also a variety of colourful wild orchids such as Lady's Slipper, Dendrobium, blue and orange Vanda, and Foxtail.
Conservation History
The area was originally Reserved Forest and was declared as Wildlife Sanctuary in 1972 under Assam Forest Regulation. It was declared a National Park in 1983. In the same year, it was declared a Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger Scheme of the Government of India. An area of 177.425 sq. km. of Reserved Forest was added to the Tiger Reserve in 1986
Prior to constitution of Arunachal Pradesh, the entire Union Territory was known as North East Frontier Agency (N.E.F.A.). A scheme for the creation of a National Park in N.E.F.A. was proposed in 1947. The area chosen for the purpose lies in the valley of the Diyan or Noa-Dehing river and its catchment area, whose elevation above mean sea level varies between 500 ft. at the Miao village to 15,020 ft. at Daphabum. The scheme aimed at the establishment of the National Park for public recreation, research and study of wildlife in natural surrounding of an area of 802.9 sq. miles.
After inquiry and settlement proceeding a draft for final notification proposing the entire area from M'Pen to Vijoynagar for reservation as it was thought, for unknown reasons, that it would be better to do so. As a result of some controversy, the matter remained pending.
Then came the 1962 Chinese war and afterwards papers related to creation of a National Park could not be traced till 1969. The Deputy Commissioner of Khonsa proposed to the Director of Forest in1969 that as area of the proposed Reserved Forest extended upto Patkai range and Daphabum is situated just on the inter-district boundary between Tirap and Lohit, it would be suitable to name it as Namdapha Reserved Forest instead of Daphabum Reserved Forest. The area was declared a Reserved Forest under the Assam Forest Regulation in the year 1970. Subsequently, after persistent follow up by the forest department, the whole reserve was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in the year 1972.
Forest Types
Assam Valley Tropical Wet Evergreen Forest ,Upper Assam Valley Tropical Wet Evergreen , Upper Assam Valley Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests ,Assam Valley Tropical Semi Evergreen Forests ,Sub Himalayan Light Alluvium Semi Evergre
en Forests ,Secondary Moist Bamboo ,Eastern Hoolock Forest ,East Himalayan Moist Temperate Forest ,Moist Alpine Scrub . Main Species (Flora)
Dipterocarpus macrocarpus, Terminalia myriocarpa, Shorea assamica, Abies delavavi, Pinus merkusi.
Main Species(Fauna)
Mammals: Tiger, Panther, Clouded Leopard, Snow Leopard, Sambar, Barking Deer, Himalayan black bear, Gaur, Hoolock Gibbons.
Special Projects New Initiatives
Eco-development
The Reserve management achieved remarkable success in generating goodwill, among the people along the periphery of the Reserve, by free distribution of medicine and organising free medical check-up camps in the villages.
Village Forest Protection Committees
Nil
Protection Squads / Patrolling
NIL
Education and Awareness
Since 1996-97, every year more than 50 villagers are taken to Kaziranga, to learn about the importance of wildlife and its potential in improving the economic condition of the people through wildlife tourism and other activities and also to make people feel proud about Namdapha heritage.
