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

 Mizoram, tucked within the Indo-Myanmar biodiversity hotspot, is home to an extraordinary array of wildlife shaped by its rugged hills, dense forests, and varied ecosystems. From elusive mountain-dwelling mammals and arboreal primates to rare birds and newly discovered reptiles, the state supports species found in few other parts of India. Here are 7 iconic wild animals found in Mizorma.

Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant

A Mrs. Hume's pheasant. Image credit: Christoph Moningvia Wikimedia Commons.

Mizoram’s state bird, the stunning Mrs. Hume’s pheasant (Syrmaticus humiae), is named after the wife of Allan Octavian Hume, a renowned British ornithologist. The males of this species exhibit striking plumage colours, whereas the females have a subdued colour. The bird range includes parts of Northeast India, Myanmar, southern China and parts of Thailand. The bird prefers inhabiting forest edge areas, as well as areas with mixed vegetation types and along the edges of farmlands. In Mizoram, it is locally known as Vavu and is more common in the Champhai and Saiha districts. It is possible to see them in the Phawngpui and Murlen National Parks of the state. The bird is a threatened species and is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. It suffers from habitat loss due to slash-and-burn agricultural practices, forest fires, infrastructure development and also hunting for meat and feathers.

Himalayan Serow

Close-up of a Himalayan serow. Image credit: Dibyendu Ash via Wikimedia Commons.

The Himalayan serow (Capricornis sumatraensis thar) is the state animal of Mizoram. A subspecies of the Mainland serow, this member of the Bovidae family is found across the Himalayas in India, but in small numbers. It is well-adapted to live on the rocky slopes and extreme conditions. It is a strict herbivore that migrates from lower to higher elevations in the summer and vice versa in the winter, depending on food availability. They are usually solitary in nature and active most of the day, but more at dawn. Poaching for meat and habitat loss are major threats to the animal. At the species level, the Mainland serow is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Bengal Slow Loris

A Bengal slow loris. Image credit: ian_dugdale via Wikimedia Commons.

The Nycticebus bengalensis is found in the evergreen and mixed deciduous forests of Mizoram. Its range in India includes the states of the northeast. Beyond India, it inhabits parts of Bangladesh, Myanmar, China and Southeast Asia. It is a venomous mammal that is arboreal and nocturnal. It feeds on nectar and other plant parts and occasionally on small invertebrates. The species is Endangered and is threatened by habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation. It is also heavily poached for traditional medicines and sport. It is also collected for the illegal pet trade market. The Dampa Tiger Reserve in Mizoram houses a small population of the Bengal slow loris.

Leopard Cat

An elusive leopard cat in the wilderness. Image credit: Shan2797 via Wikimedia Commons

The Mainland leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) is a small wild cat species found in Mizoram. Although widely distributed from parts of the Indian subcontinent to Southeast Asia to East Asia, this species is highly elusive and very difficult to spot and observe. It also adapts to a wide variety of habitats from forests to grasslands, shrublands, wetlands, and even plantations and croplands. The cat hunts small prey, primarily rodents, birds, and some reptiles. It lives at elevations ranging from 0 m above sea level to 4,474 m. Although still a Least Concern species on the IUCN Red List, the leopard cat suffers threats like habitat loss and hunting.

Mizoram Parachute Gecko

Endemic to Mizoram, this is a newly-described species. The Gekko mizoramensis is endemic to Mizoram. It was discovered in May 2022 in Lawngtlai town in the southern part of the state. Little has been studied about the species. It was found feeding on insects at dusk. Being a parachute gecko, this species possesses special adaptations that allow it to leap into the air and glide from one surface to another up to a distance of around 200 feet.

Phayre's Leaf Monkey

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

The Phayre’s leaf monkey (Trachypithecus phayrei) is an Endangered primate species found in the Northeast Indian states of Assam, Mizoram and Tripura and some parts of Bangladesh and Myanmar. The species inhabits evergreen and mixed deciduous forests. It is predominantly diurnal, arboreal and folivorous (fruit-eating) in nature. The animal suffers from hunting to remove its gallstones which are used in traditional medicines and for its meat. It also suffers from habitat loss and degradation due to high deforestation rates.

Clouded Leopard

A clouded leopard. Image credit: Sandeep pai1986 via Wikimedia Commons.

A magnificent mid-sized wild cat, the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) is a threatened species listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. It is found in parts of South and Southeast Asia at elevations ranging from 3,700 to 5,580 m. In India, it is primarily found in the northeastern part, including the Dampa Tiger Reserve in Mizoram. Leopard cats are highly arboreal animals and thus prefer living in tropical evergreen rainforests, but are also sometimes found in dry and deciduous forests, grasslands, etc. These cats feed on a wide variety of prey, including small ungulates, birds and reptiles. Habitat destruction and illegal hunting are the two biggest threats to the species.