Zemithang, also known as Pangchen, is the westernmost village in the state of Arunachal Pradesh and is positioned farthest to the left on the state's map. It is also referred to as "The Last Village of Arunachal Pradesh'' because the Zemithang Circle is the last administrative division of India. It is located in the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh, India, at an elevation of approx 2,120 m, on the bank of the Nyamjang Chu river, and is mostly populated by the Monpa tribes of the region.

The area is home to a wide variety of animals and plants, as well as a rich cultural history that has seen various discoveries that have allowed us to learn more about the area. Explore now!

1.    Impatiens dorjeekhandui

Impatiens Dorjeekhanduii is a species of orchid belonging to Balsaminaceae family, discovered in 2017 by a team led by Dr. Krishna Chowlu from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) at Zemithang area under Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh and was named so to honour the former Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Shri Dorjee Khandu for his contributions and dedication to the state,

They thrive at the periphery of broadleaved, temperate, damp, and shady forests and can only be found precisely in Zemithang, which is its type locality. It is an annual herb with striking white and purple colouring that is branching and grows 10 to 50 cm tall. Impatiens dorjeekhanduii is a plant that anyone who studies the Balsaminaceae family will also learn about. In addition to Ms. Chowlu, BSI scientists Rajib Gogoi, SS Dash, and Souravjyoti Borah contributed to a paper about the new species that was published in a BSI journal.

2.    Black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis)

The endangered black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis) has recently been observed at Zemithang. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has categorized the bird as Vulnerable and under the Wildlife Protection Act, of 1972, the bird is listed under Schedule 1. India, among the high altitude wetlands on the Tibetan plateau, which are located at heights of 2950–4900 metres above mean sea level, are home to the black-necked cranes, which are also found in Bhutan and China. One of the species' recognised nesting habitats is Sangti valley, where there is a small wintering population. In December 2011, Mr. Lham Tsering and Mr. Kokte, representatives of WWF-India who supported the Pangchen Lumpo Muchat Community Conserved Area (CCA) and Pangchen Lakhar CCA, captured a flock of six adults and one juvenile on camera. Also, three black-necked cranes were spotted in mid-November 2010 in the Pangchen Valley in Zemithang, in the northwest of Arunachal Pradesh, which shares borders with China on the north and Bhutan on the west.

3.    Tawny Fish-Owl (Ketupa flavipes Hodgson)

A rare and elusive species of fish owl known as the tawny fish-owl is found in freshwater habitats and can be found in areas with low elevations up to 1,500 metres in the Indian Himalayas, Bhutan, China, Laos, Cambodia, Taiwan, and Myanmar. Although it primarily preys on fish, it also consumes insects, birds, crabs, small animals, and reptiles. They rely on streams for their food, and the distribution of stream fishes determines their higher altitudinal range. The Zemithang-Nelya region has been recognised by the IUCN (Indigenous Bird Authority) as an important bird area, with numerous species classed as Vulnerable and Near Endangered.

A huge predatory owl was spotted on July 31, 2017, in a sacred woodland near Zemithang, Tawang. The bird was discovered to have bold orange buff on the wing coverts and flight feathers, bold orange upperparts with conspicuous black striping, a whitish patch on the forehead, and a prominent black streak on its pale rufous orange underparts. After taking pictures to confirm the species, it was identified to be the Tawny Fish-owl based on morphological traits and a distinctive call that sounded like a deep whoo-whoo. The species has been reported from Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh (Ritschard & Marques 2007) and Dibang Valley (preserved specimen, Choudhury 1998). However, it was not reported from Tawang District, suggesting it was the first sighting.

In summation, although rich in biodiversity, Zemithang is relatively less exposed because of military conflict and road connectivity as it is the last village in India and is close to several foreign borders. Moreover, human activity is causing a global decline in the population of many species. Road building and other development projects that are ongoing in Zemithang are the biggest threats to the habitat of its wildlife species. However, people have begun to realise the importance of protecting wildlife and the environment. But, because these roads are so important to India's security, it is necessary to find a sustainable compromise that will protect the natural habitat while ensuring that development continues.