wildlife & biodiversity
Where nature thrives
Zemithang’s varied elevations and habitats — river valleys, temperate forests, and alpine meadows — create a mosaic of life. Within this Himalayan corridor thrive species found nowhere else, making the valley both a refuge for the rare and a passage for the migratory.
Zemithang Valley showcases the full spectrum of Himalayan vegetation, from temperate forests to alpine meadows, and is especially notable for its rich rhododendron diversity.
Forest Types
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Lower temperate forests: Chir Pine (Pinus roxburghii), oak, broadleaf species, and extensive bamboo groves historically used in local housing.
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Higher altitudes: Conifer stands including fir (Abies densa), pine (Pinus wallichiana), spruce, and juniper.
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Subalpine zones: Dwarf rhododendron thickets and alpine herb fields.
Alpine Meadows
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Found above 3,500 m, these meadows bloom seasonally, supporting pollinators and livestock grazing.
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They form a fragile yet vital ecosystem.
Rare & Threatened Plants -species valued for cultural rituals and medicinal uses
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Saussurea obvallata (Brahma Kamal)
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Saussurea globosa
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Rheum nobile
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Aconitum species
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Picrorhiza kurroa
Cultural Significance
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Juniper and rhododendron are integral to Monpa rituals and festivals.
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Medicinal herbs like Picrorhiza are harvested for traditional healing.
Conservation Pressures
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Climate change is shifting flowering cycles and threatening alpine-specialist plants.
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Unsustainable harvesting of medicinal herbs is an emerging concern.
☆ Did you know? Over 32 rhododendron species and 8 primula species have been documented in the Pangchen landscape (Rao et al., 2012).
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Zemithang’s diverse habitats, ranging from 1,600–4,500 m, sustain an exceptional variety of wildlife — from iconic Himalayan species to globally threatened and Eastern Himalayan endemics.
Flagship Species
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Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis) – Vulnerable
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Winters in the Nyamjang Chu wetlands
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Locally called thung thung karma and revered in Monpa culture
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Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens) – Endangered
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Thrives in bamboo-rich forests above 2,800 m
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Birdlife
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Over 180 recorded species. Notable birds include:
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Satyr Tragopan (Tragopan satyra) – Near Threatened
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Sclater’s Monal (Lophophorus sclateri) – Vulnerable, Eastern Himalaya endemic
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Blood Pheasant (Ithaginis cruentus)
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Ibisbill (Ibidorhyncha struthersii) – specialist of shingle riverbeds
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Long-billed Plover (Charadrius placidus)
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Raptors such as Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus)
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Bhutan Laughingthrush and Brown-throated Fulvetta near villages
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Mammals
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Large carnivores: Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia – Vulnerable), Common Leopard, Asiatic Wild Dog/Dhole (Cuon alpinus)
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Herbivores: Musk Deer (Moschus chrysogaster), Himalayan Serow (Capricornis thar), Goral (Naemorhedus goral)
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Unique species: Arunachal Macaque (Macaca munzala), described only in 2004, inhabiting elevations up to 3,500 m
Endemism & Global Significance
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Several species, including the Red Panda and Sclater’s Monal, are restricted to the Eastern Himalayas
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The valley is a critical refuge for biodiversity in the region
☆ Did you know? Zemithang was designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International for hosting more than 180 bird species (Choudhury, 2007).
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Zemithang’s biodiversity is not only rich but also ecologically pivotal
Wetlands of Nyamjang Chu
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Serve as the only known wintering ground for the Black-necked Crane in Arunachal Pradesh (WWF India, 2016).
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Provide roosting and feeding habitat for migratory waterfowl such as Bar-headed Geese.
Ecosystem Services
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Forests regulate river flows, prevent erosion, and act as carbon sinks.
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Alpine pastures sustain pollinator diversity, indirectly supporting both wild flora and agricultural crops.
Transboundary Connectivity
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Zemithang lies within the larger Pangchen–Sakteng–Tawang landscape, connecting Bhutan and Tibet.
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This corridor allows gene flow and seasonal movement for wide-ranging species like the Snow Leopard, Red Panda, and migratory birds.
Cultural Significance
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Monpa communities consider the Black-necked Crane sacred, embedding conservation within spiritual practice.
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Sacred groves around monasteries act as micro-reserves, maintaining old-growth forests.
✧ Did you know? Sacred groves in Zemithang often harbour ancient trees and rare plants, preserved for centuries through community protection.
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WWF-India has partnered with local communities in Zemithang for over two decades, focusing on integrating conservation with sustainable livelihoods:
Black-necked Crane Protection
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Annual monitoring of crane arrivals at Nyamjang Chu wetlands.
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Awareness campaigns in collaboration with Gorsam Chorten and local monasteries, emphasising religious and cultural protection of the species (WWF India, 2018).
Community Engagement
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Formation of Community Conserved Area management Committees (EDCs) to coordinate community led conservation action.
Training of youth as nature guides, supporting birdwatching and trekking tourism.
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Development of homestay networks to promote community-based tourism (CBT), reducing dependence on resource extraction.
Livelihood Diversification
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Promotion of traditional handicrafts (yak wool weaving, bamboo crafts).
Renewable Energy & Waste Management
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Introduction of solar power and energy-efficient stoves, easing reliance on forests for fuel.
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Waste management pilots introducing segregation, collection systems, and links to recycling markets (Further and Beyond Foundation, 2023).
By placing local stewardship at the centre, WWF’s model strengthens conservation outcomes while generating tangible community benefits.
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Despite its ecological wealth, Zemithang faces a growing set of pressures that threaten both species survival and community well-being.
Human–Wildlife Conflict
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Frequent crop raids by Himalayan black bears (Ursus thibetanus), wild boars (Sus scrofa), and macaques (Macaca munzala). These events cause significant yield losses and sometimes property damage (Choudhury, 2007).
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Livestock depredation by snow leopards and wild dogs leads to economic losses, often creating negative perceptions of carnivore conservation.
Habitat Degradation
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Sand mining along the Nyamjang Chu disrupts riverine ecosystems, threatening the ibis bill and other shingle-bed specialists (WWF India, 2016).
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Unregulated road construction fragments habitats, particularly affecting ground-nesting birds.
Climate Change
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Retreating glaciers in the Eastern Himalaya are altering river flow regimes and wetland dynamics, directly impacting the Black-necked Crane’s wintering sites (Xu et al., 2009).
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Warmer winters may shift species ranges upslope, narrowing habitat availability for cold-adapted species like the Red Panda.
Changing Lifestyles & Pressures
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Growth of concrete (RCC) housing increases demand for imported cement and steel, raising ecological footprints compared to traditional stone-and-wood houses.
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Outmigration of youth reduces community-based forest stewardship, leaving lands vulnerable to overuse or neglect.
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The Monpa community’s relationship with nature is not just practical but spiritual, embedding conservation within daily life.
Sacred Spaces as Biodiversity Refuges
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Every Monpa village has a Gompa (monastery) often surrounded by sacred groves where hunting, logging, or grazing is restricted (Singh et al., 2010).
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Chortens and prayer-flag areas around roads and trails inadvertently act as micro-habitats where vegetation is protected.
Cultural Protection of Species
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The Black-necked Crane (Trung Trung Karmo) is revered as a sacred bird in Tibetan Buddhism, considered an embodiment of the sixth Dalai Lama’s soul. As a result, hunting cranes is taboo, ensuring strong cultural protection (WWF India, 2018).
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Monpa taboos also discourage killing red pandas and musk deer, species seen as messengers or guardians in local folklore.
Traditional Land-Use Practices
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Chikpa Chame houses, built communally with local stone, mud, and timber, reduce reliance on external building materials while maintaining low ecological footprints.
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Shifting cultivation (jhum), though historically practised, is increasingly replaced by settled agriculture and agroforestry, balancing food security with forest regeneration cycles.
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Pastoralism: Yak and cattle grazing follow seasonal migration routes that allow pastures to recover naturally.
Knowledge Transmission
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Oral traditions, folk songs, and rituals embed ecological wisdom — from predicting weather to regulating harvests of wild plants like Picrorhiza kurroa.
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Village elders pass on carpentry, weaving, and herbal medicine knowledge, linking cultural survival with ecological stewardship.
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A biodiverse hotspot
