Why in News A Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) has been confirmed by camera-trap evidence in D’Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary (DEMWS), East Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh – reported on May 8-9, 2026. The find is significant because the last confirmed evidence of tigers in DEMWS dates to 2005, and a 2014 WWF survey had found no presence, with poaching cited as the likely reason. The camera-trap survey was conducted in partnership with the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE).
D’Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary – A Profile
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | East Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh; ~13 km from Pasighat |
| Area | 190 sq km |
| Established | 1978 (formerly Lali Wildlife Sanctuary; renamed after freedom fighter Daying Ering) |
| Topography | Floodplain sanctuary; bounded by Siang (which becomes the Brahmaputra in Assam) and Sibya rivers |
| Biome | Eastern Himalayan flood-plain grasslands and riverine forest |
| Climate | Sub-tropical; high monsoon rainfall; frequent floods |
What the Survey Found
- Camera-trap photographs and pugmarks of a Royal Bengal Tiger documented over the survey period
- The likely source: a tiger that left pugmarks at Kobu Chapori (Assam-Arunachal border) in January 2026
- Ancillary records: increased ungulate prey populations – which underpins tiger return
- Continued presence of Chinese Pangolin (Critically Endangered), Hispid Hare (Endangered), wild buffaloes and the Bengal Florican – all conservation flagships
Conservation Status of the Tiger
| Framework | Status |
|---|---|
| IUCN Red List | Endangered (EN) – global; Royal Bengal Tiger sub-species concentrated in India |
| CITES | Appendix I (highest protection; commercial trade prohibited) |
| Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 | Schedule I (highest protection under Indian law) |
| Convention on Migratory Species | Listed |
Indian numbers
- All-India Tiger Estimation 2022 (released July 2023): 3,682 tigers in India – ~75 per cent of the global wild tiger population
- India hosts 57 tiger reserves (as of latest count) covering ~78,000 sq km
- Madhya Pradesh has the highest tiger count (785); Karnataka is second (563)
Why DEMWS Matters for the Eastern Tiger Landscape
Connectivity
- DEMWS sits within the larger Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot – one of the two hotspots that occur fully within India
- It is geographically close to Dibang and Dehing-Patkai tiger landscapes in Assam-Arunachal
- Tiger re-occupation here strengthens the trans-boundary corridor between Namdapha-Kamlang (Arunachal) and Dibru-Saikhowa (Assam)
Floodplain ecology
- Floodplain sanctuaries are home to apex riverine biodiversity – including the Bengal Florican (Critically Endangered) and the Hispid Hare (Endangered)
- Floodplains across Assam-Arunachal also host the One-Horned Rhinoceros (Kaziranga, Pobitora) and the Gangetic River Dolphin
Co-management with ATREE
- ATREE – a Bengaluru-headquartered research institute since 1996 – supplied scientific expertise on camera-trap design and community-engagement protocols
- The model demonstrates the value of NGO-State Forest Department partnerships in remote terrain
Institutional Framework
| Body / Instrument | Role |
|---|---|
| National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) | Statutory body since 2006 (Section 38L, WLPA after 2006 amendment); oversees Project Tiger |
| Project Tiger | Launched April 1, 1973 at Jim Corbett National Park; original 9 reserves |
| All-India Tiger Estimation | Quadrennial census using camera traps + sign surveys – since 2006 |
| Wildlife Crime Control Bureau | Statutory body under MoEFCC (2007 amendment to WLPA, established 2008) |
| Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) | India is a party; tigers in Appendix I |
| Global Tiger Forum (GTF) | Established 1993; the only inter-governmental body for tiger conservation |
The Larger Story – Tigers in India’s Northeast
- Northeast India accounts for ~5 per cent of India’s tiger population but ~80 per cent of the country’s mammal diversity
- Manas (Assam), Pakke (Arunachal), Namdapha (Arunachal), Dampa (Mizoram), Nameri (Assam) are reserves
- D’Ering is not yet a tiger reserve; the camera-trap confirmation could trigger NTCA evaluation
- Threats: poaching, hydropower fragmentation, road-widening, illegal wildlife trade across porous borders
UPSC Relevance
GS Paper 3 – Environment, Biodiversity
- Conservation status, schedules under WLPA 1972
- Project Tiger, NTCA, tiger reserves
- Biodiversity hotspots (India hosts four; Eastern Himalaya is one)
GS Paper 1 – Geography
- Eastern Himalaya; Brahmaputra-Siang river system; floodplain biomes
Mains Angles
- Examine the role of community-NGO-State Forest Department partnerships in tiger conservation, with reference to DEMWS.
- Floodplain sanctuaries are under-represented in Project Tiger. Discuss with relevance to the Eastern Himalaya.
- The All-India Tiger Estimation methodology has matured significantly since 2006. Outline the methodological refinements.
Facts Corner – Knowledgepedia
D’Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary (DEMWS): Area 190 sq km; East Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh; ~13 km from Pasighat; bounded by Siang and Sibya rivers; established 1978; earlier the Lali WLS; renamed after Daying Ering.
Royal Bengal Tiger: Panthera tigris tigris. IUCN: Endangered; CITES: Appendix I; Schedule I, WLPA 1972.
All-India Tiger Estimation 2022 (released July 2023): 3,682 tigers – ~75 per cent of global wild tigers.
Project Tiger: Launched April 1, 1973 at Jim Corbett National Park; 9 original reserves; 57 tiger reserves as of latest.
NTCA: National Tiger Conservation Authority; statutory under Section 38L, WLPA (2006 amendment); located in New Delhi.
ATREE: Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment; Bengaluru-headquartered research institute since 1996.
Co-located biodiversity at DEMWS: Chinese Pangolin (CR), Hispid Hare (EN), Bengal Florican (CR), wild water buffalo.
Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot: One of two biodiversity hotspots fully within India (the other is the Western Ghats; the Indo-Burma and Sundaland hotspots extend into India only partially).
Global Tiger Forum (GTF): Established 1993; HQ New Delhi; the only inter-governmental body for tiger conservation.
