Why in News?

• National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has recently announced that the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh would soon be notified as a tiger reserve.

Highlights

• Idu Mishmi is a sub-tribe of the Mishmi group in Arunachal Pradesh and neighbouring Tibet, primarily living in the Mishmi Hills bordering Tibet.
• Their ancestral homelands are spread over the districts of Dibang Valley and Lower Dibang Valley as well as parts of Upper Siang and Lohit.
• They are known for their weaving and craftsmanship skills and are estimated to comprise around 12,000 people (as per census 2011).
• Their language, also called Idu Mishmi, is considered endangered by UNESCO.
• The tribe has strong ties with the region’s rich flora and fauna, and their animist tradition led to unique wildlife conservation practices.
• Tigers are particularly important to the tribe, and according to their mythology, tigers are their elder brothers.
• The Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary was notified in 1998 to protect its rich biodiversity.
• Over the years, several conservation efforts have been undertaken, including mapping the tiger habitat and counting tigers in the area.
• The proposal to declare the sanctuary as a tiger reserve is part of these efforts.
• The Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary is facing several threats, including habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict.
• The proposed tiger reserve is expected to provide better protection to the sanctuary’s wildlife and their habitat.