An adult Royal Bengal Tiger was sighted in the Siku Reserved Forest (RF) area within the Mebo Forest Range of the Pasighat Forest Division on December 23, a notable event for wildlife conservation and biodiversity in the region. The tiger was spotted by dumper truck drivers from the Yagona Stone Crusher unit while traveling along the old Komlighat road, which leads to quarry sites near the Siku–Siang riverbed. This road used to be a key route connecting Mebo Sub-Division to Pasighat and Itanagar via ferry services across the Siang River, winding through dense forest patches.
Eyewitness Gopal Rai, a truck driver, reported seeing the tiger resting just a few meters from the kutcha road. “We were shocked because we had never seen a tiger here before, although we regularly noticed pugmarks. The animal didn’t seem scared of us or the trucks, which allowed us to capture a video before it slowly retreated into the forest,” he shared.
The video of this rare sighting circulated rapidly across social media, prompting immediate verification efforts by forest authorities. Upon receiving news of the sighting, Mebo MLA Oken Tayeng informed the Deputy Commissioner of Pasighat and the Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) from both the Pasighat Forest Division and the D. Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary in order to officially confirm the presence of the tiger. Tayeng emphasized that if confirmed, this sighting would be a positive indicator for conservation efforts, highlighting the need for public awareness regarding human safety.
A verification team led by DFO Dr. Hano Moda from the Pasighat Forest Division, accompanied by DFO Smt. Kempi Ete from D. Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary and other regional forest officers, visited the sighting location. They found pugmarks, validating the presence of the tiger. Dr. Moda remarked, “We validated the video location and discovered pugmarks at the scene. The eyewitness stated the tiger was seen early in the morning. I urge the residents of Mebo not to panic and to aid in preserving our national animal, which has returned to this area after nearly a decade.”
After the confirmation, Dr. Moda issued a public advisory urging residents of Mebo, Sigar, Ralling, Motum, and Ayeng villages to exercise caution. Villagers are advised to avoid the forest after dark, return early from fields, travel in groups rather than alone, and promptly report any tiger sightings to the forest department.
“This sighting clearly establishes the presence of a tiger in the nearby forest areas and the D. Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary. Although animal kills are reported annually and the presence of a tiger was previously dismissed based solely on pugmarks, this sighting unequivocally confirms it,” Dr. Moda stated, noting that the Royal Bengal Tiger is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
Officials indicated that the presence of a tiger signifies a healthy prey population and a robust forest ecosystem. India is home to approximately 3,680 wild tigers, constituting nearly 75 percent of the global tiger population. Furthermore, forest officials credited this sighting to increased public awareness and conservation initiatives in the Mebo Sub-Division, particularly under the Eco-Clean Mebo Mission (ECMM). Various villages have adopted cleanliness drives, tree planting programs, and zero-hunting policies, contributing to the region’s improved ecological health.
The confirmation of the tiger sighting reflects growing environmental awareness and effective conservation efforts in the area.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/arunachal-pradesh/video/arunachal-rare-royal-bengal-tiger-sighting-reported-in-pasighats-siku-reserved-forest-1321990-2025-12-24?utm_source=rssfeed
Category:
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-12-24 22:43:00
