Seven Iconic Wild Animals Found In Tripura And Where To See Them

The northeastern state of Tripura is home to a collection of many rare and threatened species. It is especially known for its efforts to conserve the Phayre’s Leaf Monkey and other endangered primates. The state's Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary is known for its captive breeding and conservation programs for many threatened species. Tripura has diverse ecosystems, from forests to grasslands to wetlands, that house a great diversity of flora and fauna. Here are seven iconic species to look out for while visiting this state.

Phayre’s Leaf Monkey

A Phayre's leaf monkey. Image credit: Md. Tareq Aziz Touhid,  via Wikimedia Commons

The state animal of Tripura, the Phayre’s Leaf Monkey, is a delight to look at. It is also called the bespectacled monkey due to the spectacle-like white eye patch around its black face. It is named after a British Army officer who first mentioned it. His name was Sir Arthur Purves Phayre. It is an endangered species suffering from habitat loss and hunting, but in Tripura's Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary, it is well protected and also conserved through a captive breeding program. According to a recent estimate, there has been a rise of around 2% in the species' population in the state. The Phayre’s Leaf Monkey is a highly arboreal species that hardly comes down to the ground. It derives its water from the dew and raindrops collecting on leaves. It is a folivore, feeding primarily on leaves. According to recent observations, the monkey has started consuming rubber plant leaves in its habitat. Although not a native plant, rubber plantations have come up in the species' habitat, and the monkey has started adapting to it. The species' conservation still remains in a precarious situation and a lot of effort needs to be put into conserving the state animal of Tripura.

Green Imperial Pigeon

A green imperial pigeon. Image credit: DickDaniel via Wikimedia Commons.

The green imperial pigeon, the state bird of Tripura, is a beautiful bird. Its wings and tail are metallic green. The bird is plump and adorable. It dwells in forest tree canopies and is a frugivore, meaning it feeds on fruits. The bird is a near-threatened species that is suffering from habitat loss and hunting (primarily in Southeast Asia).

Hog Badger

Hog badgers. Image credit: David Cook via Flickr.com.

In 2020, three hog badgers were found for the first time in Tripura. They were reported in the Salema village in the North District of the state. Locals mistook them for pigs but later realised they were different and called the authorities. The forest department rescued them as they appeared to be stressed. Hog badgers are the largest of all badgers and are omnivores, feeding on insects, tubers, small mammals, etc. They are named "hog" for their pig-like snouts. The species is labelled as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List as it is extensively hunted across its range.

Clouded Leopard

A clouded leopard. Image credit: Ltshears, via Wikimedia Commons

An extremely shy and elusive species, the clouded leopard hardly comes in front of the human eye in the wild. However, Tripura has an entire protected area dedicated to the species, the Clouded Leopard National Park. Sightings of this medium-sized wild cat are scarce, and even researchers working on the ecology of the cat often mention being able to spot the cat only a couple of times in their entire research career. Clouded leopards are highly arboreal in nature and primarily prefer living in dense tropical forests. Clouded leopards are highly threatened by deforestation and poaching. It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Common Birdwing

A common birdwing. Image credit: Tapanoutsider via Wikimedia Commons.

A beautiful butterfly with a large size and black and bright yellow colouring, the common birdwing is the state butterfly of Tripura. It is found in forested areas, and one of the best places to find it in Tripura is the Butterfly Park at Chottakhola near the Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary. The park is home to at least 250 species of butterflies. 

Northern Pig-tailed Macaque

A northern pig-tailed macaque. Image credit: Md shahanshah bappy via Wikimedia Commons.

Another primate of Tripura, the Northern Pig-tailed Macaque, can also be spotted in the state's famed Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary. This species is also threatened and listed as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List. Unlike the Phayre’s Leaf Monkey, it resides more on the ground but can climb up trees when needed. About one-third of its diet comprises of insects. They live in dense evergreen forests and spotting them is extremely difficult. The species is threatened by habitat loss and poaching.

Gaur

A gaur. Image credit: N. A. Naseer / www.nilgirimarten.com / naseerart@gmail.com, via Wikimedia Commons.

The gaur, or the Indian bison, is the world's largest bovid. Tripura is also home to the species, and the Trishna Sanctuary in the state houses a significant population of these giant animals. Recently, the sanctuary's boundary along the Bangladesh border was sealed with barbed wire to prevent these animals from crossing the border and also to stop poachers from Bangladesh from entering the forest. The forest department also planted a special kind of bamboo grass in the core area of the sanctuary, which is a favourite of the gaur. More watch towers were constructed, and security was beefed up. All these measures helped improve the gaur population in the sanctuary.