In celebration of Global Tiger Day, Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh has organized a 10 km marathon to raise awareness about tiger conservation and the importance of forests. The event is aimed at engaging the youth of Changlang district in protecting this critical habitat.
The marathon saw enthusiastic participation from students of Government Higher Secondary School Miao, who, despite the sweltering heat, rallied through Miao town chanting slogans like “Bagh hai to Jungle Hai, Jungle Hai to Insan hai” and “Save Namdapha, Save Tiger.” Their efforts were bolstered by local community members, including Shri Latgam Singpho, who emphasized the importance of involving the youth in wildlife conservation.
According to the 2022 “Status of Tigers: Co-Predators and Prey in India” report by the Wildlife Institute of India, tiger presence in Namdapha has been notably sparse. While tiger presence was confirmed through scat DNA in 2014 and 2018, no tigers were photographed during the 2022 sampling exercise. The report indicates that although tiger numbers are low, their genetic uniqueness makes their conservation vital.
V.K. Jawal, Conservator of Forests & Field Director of Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve, commended the students for their spirited participation in the rally. He urged everyone to engage in activities supporting wildlife conservation.
In addition to the marathon, Namdapha has supported the Independence Football Tournament in Miao, organized by the local youth organization. This initiative aims to foster fitness and sportsmanship among the youth, contributing to their overall development.
Namdapha, India’s third-largest national park, spans 1,807.02 square kilometers and is part of the India-Myanmar biodiversity hotspot. It is unique for harboring four species of large cats: tigers, snow leopards, clouded leopards, and leopards.