Royal Bengal Tiger Returns to Arunachal Sanctuary After 20-Year Absence

A Royal Bengal tiger has been photographed inside D. Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary after nearly two decades, marking a major conservation milestone for Arunachal Pradesh and renewing hopes about the recovery of tiger populations in the region. The sighting was confirmed through camera trap surveys conducted in the sanctuary near Pasighat with technical assistance from Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment.

Forest officials said the last confirmed evidence of a tiger inside the sanctuary dated back to 2005, while only unverified sightings were reported until around 2007 and 2008. A 2014 survey conducted by the World Wide Fund for Nature had found no tiger pugmarks or camera-trap evidence in the area and identified poaching and illegal hunting as major reasons behind the disappearance of the species from the sanctuary.

Authorities stated that signs of tiger activity had gradually started reappearing in the wider landscape over the past year. Earlier in January 2026, forest personnel in Assam’s Jonai forest range reportedly discovered pugmarks believed to belong to an adult tiger in Kobu Chapori, a proposed reserve forest located near the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border close to the sanctuary. Continued monitoring efforts and surveillance operations eventually resulted in the latest photographic confirmation.

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Kempi Ete, the Divisional Forest Officer associated with the area, described the development as highly significant for wildlife conservation in northeastern India. She said the return of the tiger reflected the resilience of the sanctuary’s ecosystem and highlighted the impact of sustained conservation work carried out by forest staff, eco-development committees, and local community organisations involved in habitat protection and anti-poaching measures.

The recent wildlife survey also documented the presence of other rare and endangered species within the sanctuary, including the critically endangered Chinese pangolin and the endangered Hispid hare. Conservationists noted that these findings underline the ecological significance of the sanctuary’s riparian grassland ecosystem, which is considered unique among protected areas in Arunachal Pradesh and serves as an important habitat for multiple vulnerable species.

Located around 13 kilometres from Pasighat in the East Siang district, the D Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary spans nearly 190 square kilometres and is bordered by the Siang and Sibya rivers. Established in 1978, the sanctuary is known for supporting diverse wildlife, including leopards, wild buffaloes, migratory birds, and, now, once again, the Royal Bengal tiger. Environmentalists and local residents have welcomed the tiger’s return, expressing hope that the development will strengthen conservation awareness and boost ecotourism in the region.

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