News: Recent surveys in Simong village, found six butterfly species new to India.
About Siang Valley
- Location: It is located in the Upper Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh.
- River: The Siang River (Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet) flows into Arunachal Pradesh before joining the Brahmaputra in Assam.
- Importance tribes: Tribe include Adi (Litin), Nyishi, Memba, Khamba, and Idu Mismi.
- Biodiversity: It is part of the Eastern Himalaya Biodiversity Hotspot.
- Local communities like the Litin clan conserve biodiversity through community stewardship models.
- The basin consists of 5 Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs), vital for conservation of bird populations of species like hornbills.
- Key protected areas: Key protected areas in the valley include Mouling National Park and Daying Ering Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Flora: The Siang basin has over 82% forest cover and is rich in orchids, rhododendrons, bamboo, and canes.
- Fauna: Twenty-five mammal species, such as the red panda and the clouded leopard, are under Schedule I, and 26 species are under Schedule II.
- Discovery of 6 butterfly species recently:
- Litin Onyx (Horaga takanamii),
- Narrow-banded Royal (Dacalana vui),
- Tibetan Duke (Euthalia zhaxidunzhui),
- Tibetan Sergeant (Athyma yui),
- Tibetan Junglequeen (Stichophthalma neumogeni renqingduojiei), and
- Mountain Columbine (Stiboges elodinia).
- Previously, these butterflies had only been documented in Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, and southeastern Tibet.
