ITANAGAR:
Arunachal Pradesh, beautifully known as the “Land of the Rising Sun,” has just rewritten the global books on wildlife biology. In a historic milestone that highlights the pristine state of its mountain ecosystems, a new study has officially documented the presence of wild Asian elephants roaming at altitudes of up to 3,000 metres above sea level. This remarkable discovery marks the highest known elephant range ever recorded anywhere on Earth.
The Secrets of a Pristine Canopy
The monumental finding comes from a comprehensive new assessment jointly conducted by WWF-India and the State Forest Department. For months, field researchers tracked wildlife movements through the steep, mist-heavy mountain ranges, eventually capturing undeniable proof of these majestic giants navigating high-altitude terrain that was previously thought unreachable for the species.
This ecological wonder is supported by the state’s sprawling, untouched wilderness. Arunachal Pradesh boasts an astonishing forest cover of 65,881.57 square kilometres, serving as a sanctuary for thousands of rare flora and fauna species. This unparalleled green cover positions the state as a critical benchmark for environmental conservation, not just across the Northeast, but on a global scale.
A Pride for the Nation
Celebrating the achievement, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein took to social media platform X to share his pride.
Chowna Mein’s Statement: “Arunachal continues to reaffirm its position as one of India’s most important biodiversity hotspots. A new assessment by WWF-India and the Forest Department has documented elephant presence at elevations of 3,000 metres above sea level, making it the highest known elephant range recorded anywhere in the world.”
This discovery completely changes our understanding of elephant behavior and migration, proving that with strict habitat protection, nature can continue to surprise us in the most beautiful ways.