Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve

Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve
—  biosphere reserve  —
Coordinates
Country	India
State	Arunachal Pradesh
District(s)	Upper Siang, West Siang & Dibang Valley
Nearest city	Anini
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area	5,112 square kilometres (1,974 sq mi)
Governing body	Government of Arunachal Pradesh

Dihang-Dibang or Dehang-Debang is a Biosphere Reserve constituted under the scheme of Man & Biosphere Programme. It is located in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. The Mouling National Park and the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary are located fully or partly within this biosphere reserve. The reserve spreads over three districts, viz., Dibang Valley, Upper Siang and West Siang. It covers high mountains of Eastern Himalaya and Mishmi Hills. The elevation in the reserve ranges from less than 1000 to more than 5000 m asl. The habitat in Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve ranges from tropical wet evergreen in the river gorges to subtropical, temperate, alpine and permanent snow.^[1]

The reserve is rich in wildlife. Rare mammals such as Mishmi takin, Red goral, Musk deer (at least two species), Red panda, Asiatic black bear, occasional Tiger and Gongshan muntjac occurs while among birds there is the rare Sclater's Monal and Blyth's Tragopan.^[2] Two flying squirrels, new to science have been recently discovered from the vicinity of this reserve. These are named as Mechuka Giant Flying Squirrel Petaurista mechukaensis ^[3] and Mishmi Hills Giant Flying Squirrel Petaurista mishmiensis.^[4]

References

1. ^ Choudhury, Anwaruddin (2008) Survey of mammals and birds in Dihang-Dibang biosphere reserve, Arunachal Pradesh. Final report to Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India. The Rhino Foundation for nature in NE India, Guwahati, India. 70pp.
2. ^ Choudhury, Anwaruddin (2008) Survey of mammals and birds in Dihang-Dibang biosphere reserve, Arunachal Pradesh. Final report to Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India. The Rhino Foundation for nature in NE India, Guwahati, India. 70pp.
3. ^ Choudhury,Anwaruddin (2007).A new flying squirrel of the genus Petaurista Link from Arunachal Pradesh in north-east India. The Newsletter & Journal of the Rhino Foundation for nat. in NE India 7: 26-34, plates.
4. ^ Choudhury,Anwaruddin (2009).One more new flying squirrel of the genus Petaurista Link, 1795 from Arunachal Pradesh in north-east India. The Newsletter & Journal of the Rhino Foundation for nat. in NE India 8: 26-34, plates.