In a recent discovery, a rare Himalayan Palla’s cat was captured on camera in Arunachal Pradesh. For most travellers, this Northeastern state is known as a land of natural beauty, unique culture, ancient monasteries, and rare wildlife. But the wildlife that thrives in its high-altitude jungles still remains a secret and a mystery. Only a few wildlife lovers and researchers have ever observed.In a similar incident, recently, the elusive Pallas’s cat, which is a rarely captured wild feline, was photographed for the very first time in Arunachal Pradesh’s Himalayan region. It was discovered in a large-scale wildlife survey conducted by WWF-India and the state’s Forest Department in collaboration with local herding communities.A difficult captureHowever, it was not an easy task. It took researchers over eight months, who braved harsh weather and managed to install 136 camera traps across remote valleys and pastures in West Kameng and Tawang districts.What adventurous traveller should expectFor the adventurous traveller, this discovery is quite exciting and more than a scientific observation. It just shows that the eastern Himalayas are waiting to be discovered as the image of Pallas’s cat is simply splendid. The cameras have captured snow leopards, clouded leopards, marbled cats, and common leopards. Now travellers have other reasons to trek 14,000 feet and see these exotic creatures.Where to spot Pallas’s catSpotting elusive Pallas’s cat is totally your kismet (destiny)! Your best bet is to high-altitude landscapes as these creatures call mountains their home.India: In India, sightings have been recorded in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and now in Arunachal Pradesh.Mongolia: These shy cats roam the cold deserts of Mongolia.Russia: Russia too has its fair share of these exotic felines.Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan: The grasslands of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are also home to these cats.Afghanistan and western China: The remote mountains of these countries are also home.
While it’s unlikely that a casual traveller will catch a glimpse of the Pallas’s cat, the very possibility that such rare creatures thrive here makes Arunachal an irresistible destination for nature lovers. One camera trap even recorded a snow leopard and a common leopard, a rare show indeed.So, the next time you plan a trip to Arunachal Pradesh, remember: somewhere in the offbeat alpine pastures of Arunachal, lives mysterious Pallas’s cat, watching you, hidden from you but absolutely watching your every move!
