Viewing wildlife in Namdapha’s forests may often be a frustrating experience, especially for visitors for whom wildlife is synonymous with only large charismatic mammals seen for hours from jeeps or elephant-back in open habitats. It’s a paradox that while rainforests are so highly diverse, the chances of bumping into any one of its residents is often slim. While some of the exciting mammals can be seen with some care, alertness and a little bit of luck, many are elusive and difficult to see naturally. In Namdapha, it is also even more difficult because many species like large carnivores and some primates are hunted. However, the magic of Namdapha is not so much because of its large mammals, but comes from the excitement of encountering a huge diversity of birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and plants, each of which is as fascinating as a tiger or elephant.

Much of the wildlife in Namdapha is up in the trees, so scanning the canopy will yield rewards. Hoolock gibbons and several species of squirrels are commonly sighted during the day, and flying squirrels can be found chewing on the bark of trees by night. Night is also a good time to try and sight several civet species. Fruiting trees are also a great place where several species of mammals and birds congregate to feed. The Great Hornbill, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill and a multitude of fruit-eating birds like barbets, green pigeons and bluebirds can be observed easily. Under such trees one can also find, if not mammals like barking deer, at least their signs including hoof marks and droppings. Another interesting area where mammal tracks and signs are often found is around water holes and on the river banks. It is not uncommon to come across the pugmarks of small cats and wild dogs as well as tracks of ungulates like sambar and barking deer. There are very few guarantees when it comes to sighting wildlife in their natural habitat. A lot of luck goes hand-in-hand with some skill, but some general ‘jungle rules’ go a long way in increasing wildlife sightings.

Keep as silent as possible. Noise of any kind scares wild animals away, and talking loudly or continuously will definitely decrease the chances of successfully sighting wildlife, especially mammals. It is also a good idea to remove loose change, keys and other metallic objects that might jingle from pockets, and make sure that there are no other objects on your person likely to cause unnecessary noise when walking through the forest! When walking, take care to avoid stepping on dry twigs that might snap, or kicking stones which might roll and make noise. It goes without saying that playing loud music in the forest will ruin any chances of sighting wildlife. Wear dull clothes. Mid-tone greens and browns are the best colours in the forest. They allow you to blend in with the natural colors in the forest, and allow closer approach to birds and mammals without being detected by them. Reds, whites, yellows and bright colours like electric blue and pink will frighten animals away. Birds especially can see colour very well, and are scared away by bright colours. Especially in Namdapha, leeches, ticks, mosquitoes and other insects can make the jungle experience a bloody and painful one, and wearing proper leech socks and full-sleeved shirts is a good idea to prevent harassment from these creatures and well as to avoid unnecessary blood loss!

Avoid making sudden movements and sounds when viewing wildlife. This startles animals and they will either run away or rarely, panic and become aggressive. This rule is especially true when one is in the vicinity of large, potentially dangerous animals, and when observing species like butterflies and lizards from close quarters. Keep a safe distance from wildlife, especially from large animals and potentially dangerous animals like snakes. Even experts often have trouble telling venomous snakes from non-venomous ones, and in a place like Arunachal where species are not very well-known, it is best to avoid getting close to or handling snakes. The safe distance for viewing any animal is the distance that the animal considers safe, not you! If approached closer, the animal will either flee or rarely might become aggressive, both of which are not ideal for a good wildlife experience.

A basic knowledge of the habitats and habits of wildlife you wish to sight will go a long way in increasing your chances of viewing wildlife. For instance, experienced bird watchers visiting a new area will often familiarize themselves with the different habitats in the area, and identify species likely to be found in different habitats even before they reach the area. Several detailed and useful field guides are available for birds and mammals which will help not only with identification, but also provide a basic idea of habits and habitats. Several trip reports and checklists are available for Namdapha on this website, and these will help with identifying areas within the park where certain species are most likely to be found.

Respect animals, especially during their breeding season. Handling nests, eggs or fledglings of birds can cause the parents to abandon their nests or offspring. Be especially respecting of female animals with young. Approaching animals closely during the breeding season has been known to cause parents to avoid nests and young even at the slightest disturbance. Avoid handling animals like frogs and insects unnecessarily. Look out during the summer months for male hornbills bringing food back to the female and young who are walled into tree hollows.

A good pair of binoculars is essential for bird watching and will help even in observing mammals. For birding, a pair with specifications 8 x 40 is ideal. Binoculars of this kind with magnify the object eight times and provide a clear and bright image, which makes them suitable for use even under low light conditions of dawn and dusk, which are often the best times for wildlife watching. For beginners, it is advisable to familiarize oneself with the workings of the binoculars before using them for the first time in the field.

Photography, although important as a means of documenting wildlife and identifying potentially difficult species, can be extremely disturbing to wildlife. Under no circumstances should the natural habitat of the animals be altered for the purposes of obtaining a photograph. ‘Posing’ animals for photographs, which is often tried with frogs and snakes should be avoided, since this causes the animal stress.

Bird watchers often use taped calls of species they want to see and ‘playback’ these tapes to attract species. This is potentially very harmful to birds because it can cause them to stop responding to the calls of their own species once they learn that responding to tapes does not mean that a member of their species in the area. Indiscriminate use of playback should be avoided at all times.

Under no circumstances should wildlife of any kind (including parts such as feathers and bones) be collected and taken out of protected areas. Not only is this illegal, it also prevents nutrients from returning to the ecosystem. Over-collection of live animals like frogs and some marine species has led to the near-extinction of some species in parts of the country like the Gulf of Mannar. These rules also apply to plants, and cutting off leaves, twigs and bark and collection of species like orchids and mushrooms from protected areas should be avoided.

Respect the law and the local customs. Take account of the fact that there are other tourists seeking the same experience as you, and your actions might potentially affect their chances of sighting wildlife. It is a good idea to accompany a local guide or person who is familiar with the forest and the animals. This will substantially increase the chances of encounters with wild animals.