Field director of tiger project honoured

ITANAGAR, August 11: The National Afforestation and Eco-development Board has honoured DN Singh, field director of the Namdapha Tiger Project in Arunachal Pradesh with the Mahavriksha Puraskar for preserving the finest specimens of dipterocarpus macrocarpus (hollong) trees. The award carries a plaque, a citation and a cash of Rs 25,000. The Namdapha Tiger Project was created in March 1983 as the 15th tiger reserve of the country under Project Tiger scheme. Singh said the Namdapha project was spread over 1985 sq kms of virgin forest ranging from tropical, temperate to alpine vegetation and was a safe home to many endangered species including big cats like tiger, leopard, clouded leopard and snow leopard. Rare species like Malayan sun bear, red-headed parrotbill bird and illusive red panda have made Namdapha their safe home, he said. Its inhabitants include six species of fish and four species of amphibians which are new to the scene. Besides these, Namdapha flying squirrel and Namdapha shortwing bird are found in the reserve. Its biological diversity includes 1,046 species of plants, 15 species of earthworms and leeches, 430 species of insects, 140 species of butterflies, 76 species of fish, 25 species of amphibians, 50 species of reptiles, 453 species of birds and 96 species of mammals, Singh said.