Why in news?
Conservationists reported the first camera‑trap photograph of a tiger in the Daying Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary after nearly 20 years. The sighting, recorded on 14 January 2026, suggests that tigers may be returning to this riverine landscape of Arunachal Pradesh.
Background
The sanctuary, located about 13 kilometres from the town of Pasighat in East Siang district, spreads over islands formed by the Siang and Sibia (Sibya) rivers. It is named after Daying Ering, a former Member of Parliament and social worker. The mosaic of grasslands, swamp forests and water channels supports many endangered species and is an important wintering ground for migratory birds.
Key points
- The recent tiger sighting followed regular monitoring by forest officials and researchers from the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE). Local communities were involved in setting up camera traps and reporting wildlife movement.
- Besides tigers, camera traps have photographed the critically endangered Chinese pangolin and the Hispid hare, indicating healthy habitats.
- The sanctuary is also home to hoolock gibbons, red pandas, capped langurs, wild buffaloes and hog deer. Its wetlands attract migratory waterfowl, making it a bird‑watcher’s paradise.
- Ensuring wildlife protection here requires working with nearby villages to manage grazing, fishing and timber collection. The tiger record has renewed calls for stronger patrolling and community awareness programmes.