Spread over an area of 1985 sq. Km Namdapha is among the larger protected areas of India. The park is at the eastern end of the province in Changlang, Arunachal Pradesh. The area is mountainous, crisscrossed by innumerable watercourses forming part of the catchment for the Brahmaputra through the Noa-Dihing (Diyun) river system. The park is named after the Nampdapha river, a main tributary of the Noa-Dihing. Managed under Protected Tiger since 1983 the sanctuary is reputed to be unique in harboring all four big Himalayan cats: Tiger, Leopard, the rarely seen Clouded Leopard, and the almost mystical Snow Leopard. Also, there is a great diversity in avifauna as well. The area boasts 665 recorded bird species including Blyth’s Tragopan, Ward’s Trogon, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Blue-naped Pitta, Wedge-billed Wren-Babbler, Snowy-throated Babbler, and Beautiful Nuthatch. Our next highlight of the journey is Dibru-Saikhowa Wildlife Sanctuary. The 340 km 2 Reserve encompasses a patchwork of seasonally flooded forests, bells, and grassy pockets in between the braided arms of the river Dibru and Brahmaputra. The sanctuary is the perfect place to spot the rare specialized grassland and swamp forest birds such as the threatened Marsh Babbler, Jerdon’s Babbler, Black-throated Parrotbill, Rufous-vented (Swamp) Prinia, and Jerdon’s Bushcat.
