Namdapha National Park is a 1,985 km² (766 sq mi) large protected area in Arunachal Pradesh of Northeast India. The park was established in 1983. With more than 1,000 floral and about 1,400 faunal species, it is a biodiversity hotspot in the Eastern Himalayas. The national park harbours the northernmost lowland evergreen rainforests in the world at 27°N latitude. It also harbours extensive dipterocarp forests, comprising the northwestern parts of the Mizoram-Manipur-Kachin rain forests ecoregion.

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.
  • Enjoys the sub-tropical climate. The mountainous part has a mountain type of climate while the low-lying plains and valleys experience tropical climate.

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 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.

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)

Map of Namdapha National Park

Flora in Namdapha Wildlife Sanctuary

1. Namdapha, located in the North-Eastern region of India, is home to numerous rare, endangered, and endemic plant species.
2. Two notable rare root parasites found in Namdapha are Sapria himalayana and Balanophora spp., which rely on lianas and other plants for their survival.
3. Among the gymnosperms (seed-producing plants), twenty taxa are found in the North-East region, out of which some species of Amentotaxus, Cephalotaxus, and Larix are endemic to Namdapha.
4. The area is particularly rich in orchid diversity, and several rare orchid species are found in Namdapha. Notable examples include Paphiopedilum fairrieanum (Host’s slipper Orchid) and Vanda caerulea (Blue Vanda).
5. The presence of these unique and rare plant species in Namdapha highlights the importance of conservation efforts to protect the region’s rich biodiversity.

Fauna

Mammals

1. The Namdapha flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi) is an endemic and critically endangered species found in the park. It was first collected and described here and was last recorded in 1981 in a single valley within the park.
2. Namdapha’s vast elevation range from 300 to 4,500 meters (980 to 14,760 feet) and diverse vegetation zones, including evergreen, moist deciduous, temperate broadleaved, coniferous forests, and alpine vegetation, provide habitats for a wide variety of mammal species.
3. The red panda is another well-known and often observed species in Namdapha National Park.
4. Smaller carnivores present in the protected area include the red fox, yellow-throated marten, Eurasian otter, Oriental small-clawed otter, spotted linsang, binturong, Asian palm civet, small Indian civet, large Indian civet, masked palm civet, marbled cat, fishing cat, Asian golden cat, and two mongoose species.
5. Non-human primates found in Namdapha National Park include the stump-tailed macaque, slow loris, hoolock gibbon, capped langur, Assamese macaque, and rhesus macaque.

FAQs about Namdapha National Park

Read also:- Gangotri National Park, Uttarakhand