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The wet forest floors, the ever flowing streams like Pange and other water bodies spread across the forest floor, the dense moist undergrowth vegetation facilitate the booming amphibian population. The forest contributes many endemic frog species where Liurana himalayana Liurana indica and Liurana minuta are the latest discoveries by ZSI. This forest also includes mammalian species like Indian elephant, Barking deer, Capped langur, Himalayan black bear, Jungle cat, Leopard, Leopard cat, Clouded leopard, Palm civet, Wild boar, Slow loris, Tiger etc.
The valley is the residence of beautiful species of snakes like Worm-eating snake (Trachischium cf. Tenuiceps), Green Rat Snake (Ptyas nigromarginata), Red bamboo snake (Oreocryptophis porphyraceus), Mock Cobra (Pseudoxenodon macrops), Chinese Mountain Pit Viper (Ovophis monticola), Jerdon’s pitviper (Protobothrops jerdonii), Orange-collared Keelback (Rhabdophis himalayanus), Indian glass snake (Dopasia gracilis), etc.
A Green Rat Snake (Ptyas nigromarginata) gracefully makes its way through the rain drenched forest floor. A master of camouflage this is one of the most commonly found in the forest floor of Talle valley. It is found in Nepal, India, Northern Bangladesh, Northern Myanmar, China (Guizhou, Yunnan, southwestern Sichuan, southeastern Xizang Tibet) and possibly northern Vietnam.
Talle Valley – Life in the Mist
Pobitora WLS
Text and photos by Priyanku Chetia Pator
Situated at a distance of 32 km from Ziro town in the Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh, Talle Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is a place where life explodes along the slopes and captivity of the Eastern Himalayas. With an area of 337 sq km, the sanctuary is home to various rare and globally threatened species of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and a rich habitat with flowering and non-flowering plants. They all together form the soul of these forests and each of them plays an extremely crucial role in this ecosystem.
The rich diversity in the flora and fauna of the Eastern Himalaya is a direct consequence of the diverse ecosystems which support a astonishing verity of wildlife. The forest diversity ranges from Subtropical vegetation to montane wet temperate forest and the mountain slopes reach an altitude of 2365 meters or above. More than 353 new species which have been discovered and presently known to science in the last 10 years, there can be absolutely no doubt that this forest hides countless more gems of the animal kingdom in its realms, which are yet to be discovered. The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has been continuously discovering many unknown reptiles and amphibians species from this habitat.
Pange, a pristine fresh water stream running across the valley
Gammie's Wolf Snake (Lycodon gammiei) is a nonvenomous snake species endemic to northern India found in the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, and in Darjeeling district in the state of West Bengal.
Japalura forest lizard (Japalura sp), Japalura is a genus of lizards in the family Agamidae.
Species of Japalura are native to Pakistan, India,
China, and Myanmar.
Amolops formosus variously known as Assam sucker frog, Assam cascade frog, or hill stream frog is a species of frog found in high gradient streams of northern India, northern Bangladesh, and Nepal.
A story of coexistence: Image
Twin spotted tree frog (Rhacophorus bipunctatus) is a smallish tree frog with a unique ability to perform gliding jump. It’s body length of about 37–60 mm when adult, with females being larger than males. This species in the moss frog family (Rhacophoridae) found from eastern India into Southeast Asia, possibly to southeastern China and south to Malaysia.
A story of coexistence: Welcome
Plumbeous Water Redstart (Male)
Plumbeous Water Redstart (Female)
The Plumbeous Water Redstart is very protective of its habitat and will be extremely confrontational to any trespasser on its territory. They tend to live near fast-moving streams and rivers.
About the Photographer:
Yellow-cheeked tit (Parus spilonotus). Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, HongKong, India, Laos, Burma, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam.
A story of coexistence: Image
Nepal fulvetta (Alcippe nipalensis)
is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Taiwan. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forestand subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.
The forests of this valley are home to numerous creatures ranging from the smallest frog to the giant elephant and these living beings have shared a wonderful relationship with the forest. The world has already lost countless species and thousands of acres of vegetation. We must learn to respect the beautiful relationship between the forest and all its dwellers and look at the direction of those people who have already shown us the direction of conserving our ecosystem.
About the Photographer:
Priyanku Chetia Pator is an young wildlife enthusiast and photographer from Sibsagar, Assam, who believe in exploring the unparalleled beauty of nature through his camera and introduce everyone to the magnificent kingdom of nature and animals therein.
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