Mammals of the Mehao wildlife Sanctuary (Dibang Valley District, Arunachal Pradesh) with remarks on their Status

Abstract

A composite party from the Zoological Survey of India, Botanical Survey of India and the Wildlife Division of Arunachal Pradesh conducted a faunal and floral survey of the Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary, Dibang Valley District, Arunachal Pradesh, under the leader­ ship of the present authors. The survey was conducted during January-February, 1988 for the purpose of making an inventory of the mammalian fauna of the sanctuary with special reference to the Snow Leopard, Panthera uncia (Scbreber). No detail account of the mammalian fauna of the sanctuary is known except for the reports of Sinha (1984) and Mehata (1987). In the present paper an attempt has been made to give an account of the mammalian fauna of the sanctuary, with remarks on their present status. This account is based mainly on observations, collection, and information gathered from the local people. Skins and skulls of different species that are available with the local villagers have been examined for this purpose. However, this account is in no way considered to be complete, as many of the areas, particularly the northeastern hills, could not be surveyed due to inaccessibility and bad weather. Some of the smaller and noctoral species, a number of Chiropteran species, which were observed in- flying or moving condition either could not be collected or identified in the field. Thus these species also could not be included in the present account.