Namdapha National Park

• 15 Oct 2022

Why in News?

The Changlang district administration has declared cultivation of large cardamom in the Namdapha National Park (NP) illegal.

What are the Key Points About Namdapha National Park?

• About:
  • Namdapha is in fact the name of a river originating in the park and it meets Noa-Dehing river.
    • The Noa-Dehing river, is a tributary of the Brahmaputra and flows in a North-South direction in the middle of the National Park.
• Climate:
  • Enjoys the sub-tropical climate. The mountainous part has a mountain type of climate while the low-lying plains and valleys experience tropical climate.
• Location:
  • It is located in the State of Arunachal Pradesh and it covers 1,985 sq km.
  • It lies in close proximity to Indo-Myanmar-China trijunction.
  • The park is located between the Dapha bum range of the Mishmi Hills and the Patkai range.
  • It the fourth largest national park in India.
    • The first three are Hemis National Park in Ladakh, Desert National Park in Rajasthan, and Gangotri National Park in Uttarakhand.
• Legal Status:
  • It was established as a national park in 1983, and it was declared as a Tiger Reserve in the same year of 1983 in the same year.
  • It is also on the Tentative Lists of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India.
• Biodiversity:
  • This protected area has more than 1000 floral species and more than 1400 faunal species.
  • It is also a part of biodiversity hotspot.
  • It is only park in the World to have the four Feline species of big cat namely the Tiger (Panthera Tigris), Leopard (Panthera Pardus), Snow Leopard (Panthera Uncia) and Clouded Leopard (Neofelis Nebulosa).
  • It is also famous for Critically Endangered species like the Namdapha flying squirrel, species that was last spotted in 1981.
  • Hoolock Gibbons, the only ‘ape’ species found in India is found in this National Park.
• Vegetation: The vegetation is characteristic of tropical evergreen forests (Tropical Rain Forests)

What are the Other Protected Areas in Arunachal Pradesh?

• Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Mouling National Park
• Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Q1. Which one of the following National Parks has a climate that varies from tropical to subtropical, temperate and arctic? (2015)

(a) Khangchendzonga National Park
(b) Nandadevi National Park
(c) Neora Valley National Park
(d) Namdapha National Park

Ans: (d)

Q2. Consider the following pairs: (2013)

1. Nokrek Biosphere Reserve: Garo Hills
2. Logtak (Loktak) Lake: Barail Range
3. Namdapha National Park: Dafla Hills

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None

Ans: (a)

Exp:

• Nokrek Biosphere Reserve is located near Tura Peak in West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya, India. Nokrek has a remnant population of the Red Panda and is also an important habitat of the Asian Elephants. Hence, pair 1 is correctly matched.
• Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater (sweet) lake in North-East India, also called the only floating lake in the world due to the floating phumdis (heterogeneous mass of vegetation, soil, and organic matter at various stages of decomposition) on it, is located near Moirang in Manipur State, India. Hence, pair 2 is not correctly matched.
• Barail is the highest hill range in Assam and it separates the State of Manipur from the State of Nagaland.
• Namdapha National Park is the largest protected area in the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot and is located in Arunachal Pradesh in Northeast India. It is also the third largest national park in India in terms of area. It is located between the Dapha Bum range of the Mishmi Hills and the Patkai range. Hence, pair 3 is not correctly matched.
• Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Source: TH