Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary

Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary is a 282-square-kilometre (109 sq mi) wildlife sanctuary in the Lower Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh, a state in North East India. The sanctuary was declared in 1980, and is home to many species of wild animals including the tiger, hoolock gibbon, leopard and clouded leopard.

Flora
The sanctuary includes four forest types, including tropical evergreen forests up to an altitude of 900 metres (3,000 ft), sub-tropical and temperate forests, from 900 metres (3,000 ft) above mean sea level to 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) above mean sea level, temperate broadleaf forest from 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) above mean sea level to 2,800 metres (9,200 ft) above mean sea level, and temperate coniferous forest from 2,800 metres (9,200 ft) above mean sea level to 3,500 metres (11,500 ft) above mean sea level. Some of the primary tree species include Terminalia myriocarpa, Abizzia lucida, Messua ferra, Dillenia indica and Castanopsis indica, while primary shrub and herb species include Clerodendrum viscosum, Maesa indica, Costus species, Tephrosia candida and Solanum khaslanum. Bamboos such as Dendrocalamus giganteus, Dendrocalamus hamitonii, Phyllostchya bamusoides, Bambussa pallida and Pseudotaehiyum Polymer are also present.

Fauna
The sanctuary is home to several mammals, birds, snakes and fish species. Mammal species include leopard cat, spotted linsang, Asiatic wild dog, Malay treeshrew, common otter and slow loris. Birds include goosander, Himalayan pied kingfisher and great pied hornbill. Several poisonous snakes are found including the cobra, king cobra and banded krait

Accommodation

Forest rest house at Tinsukia.

Best time to visit

November to March.

Transport

Rangapara is the nearest town (52 km.).

Useful Contacts

The Manager, Sector “C” Barapani Police Point, Naharlagun – 791110. Tel.: 0364-225632.

For permits, contact the Resident Commissioner, Arunachal Bhawan, Chanakyapuri, Kautilya Marg, New Delhi. Tel.: 011-3017909.