Eagle Nest Sanctuary

Here the Birders' fantasy becomes a reality

Eaglenest Sanctuary, regarded as a magical world for serious bird lovers from across the globe, lies in the remote terrain of western Arunachal Pradesh, close to the Bhutan Hills in the west. Its isolation, combined with difficult access and limited exploration, has preserved Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary as one of the region’s most untouched natural landscapes. These most inaccessible and rarely explored areas have allowed Eaglenest to remain a hidden territory and one of the best-kept secrets in Arunachal Pradesh, particularly valued by international travellers seeking wilderness beyond conventional routes.

Until the mid-2000s, this area was largely unknown to the outside world. It gained global attention in 2006, when an amateur bird enthusiast, Mr Ramana Athreya, discovered a new bird species here. This bird later came to prominence as Bugun Liocichla, named after the local Bugun Tribe living in the surrounding villages. Following this discovery, Eaglenest began attracting Indian and international ornithologists, bird watchers, researchers, and wildlife photographers. Over time, the sanctuary has established itself as one of the most Important Bird Areas (IBA) in the region and a recognised global birding hotspot.

The sanctuary is characterised by unbroken, primitive forests with a dense canopy spread across an area of 218 square kilometres. These forests encompass a remarkable range of vegetation types, including sub-tropical forests, evergreen broadleaf forests, montane forests, and sub-alpine zones. The altitude varies dramatically from 600 meters to 2800 meters, reaching its highest point at Eagle Nest Pass. This exceptional variation in elevation and vegetation creates a complex ecological mosaic, providing ideal habitat conditions for an extraordinary diversity of birdlife. Around 500 bird species have been recorded in and around Eaglenest Sanctuary so far, making it one of the most species-rich birding destinations in the eastern Himalayas.

Many of the bird species found here are extremely difficult to observe in other parts of the Himalayas or are threatened with extinction. In addition to the Bugun Liocichla, other notable species that draw bird lovers and photographers to this sanctuary include Ward Trogon, Beautiful Nuthatch, several species of Wren-Babbler and Laughing Thrush, Grey Peacock Pheasant, Blyth’s Tragopan, and Temminck’s Tragopan. The presence of these rare and elusive species has positioned Eaglenest as a destination of global significance within serious birding and conservation circles.

Beyond its avian richness, Eaglenest Sanctuary also holds strong appeal for wildlife and butterfly enthusiasts. Alongside commonly seen mammals such as elephant, deer, and bison, the sanctuary supports rare and endangered species including the Clouded Leopard, Golden Cat, Slow Loris, Red Panda, Himalayan Serow, and the recently discovered Bhutan Giant Squirrel. Extremely rare species such as the Spotted Linsang and marbled cat have also been recorded here. Most mammal sightings typically occur during early dawn or dusk, when forest activity is at its peak. A new primate species, known as the Arunachal Macaque, was identified in this region in 2003. Eaglenest is also home to many rare butterflies, including Bhutan Glory and Kaiser-I-Hind. This exceptional biodiversity, combined with its intact forest systems, has made the sanctuary a focal point for zoologists, conservationists, nature lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, and photographers from around the world.