Anjaw District (Pron:/ˈændʒɔ:/) is an administrative district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in north-east India. It was created as a district in 2004, by splitting off from the Lohit district under the Arunachal Pradesh Re-organization of Districts Amendment Act.[1] The district borders China on the north. Hawai, at an altitude of 1296 m above sea level, is the district headquarters, located on the banks of the Lohit River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra River. Anjaw is the easternmost district in India.[2] The furthest villages towards the border with China are Dong,[3]Walong, Kibithu and Kaho.
Anjaw is the second least populous district in India (out of 640).[citation needed]
History
During the 1962 Sino-Indian War, parts of Anjaw were briefly occupied by China.[4] Being a disputed border region, Indian military has always been present in the Anjaw district. During the 2020 China–India skirmishes additional troops were deployed to the region.[5]
According to the 2011 census Anjaw district has a population of 21,167, roughly equal to the nation of Palau.[13] This gives it a ranking of 639th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 3 inhabitants per square kilometre (7.8/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 13.77%. Anjaw has a sex ratio of 805 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 59.4%.[citation needed]
Tribes
The Mishmi, and the Zakhring[14] (formerly called Meyor) are the main tribes in the district.
Tribal population is 16,451 (77.72%) as per the 2011 census, with the largest tribes being Idu/Taraon Mishmi (9,991), Kaman/Miju Mishmi (5,021), Degaru Mishmi (472), and Meyor (472).
Among the tribals, major religions are Hinduism (57.67%), Native faith (37.07%), Buddhism (3.15%), and Islam (0.99%).
Among the non-tribals, the composition is Hinduism (76.36%), Islam (10.43%), Sikh (5.66%), Christian (3.54%), and Buddhism (2.65%).[17]
Flora and fauna
The district is rich in wildlife. Rare mammals such as Mishmi takin (Miju: gheyam), Red goral, Gongshan muntjac, Leaf muntjac occurs while among birds there is the rare Sclater's monal (Miju: mankree). A pine, Pinus merkusii (Miju: Rok Sak) is found only in this district in the entire northeastern India.[18] A flying squirrel, new to science has also its range in this district. It has been named as Mishmi Hills Giant Flying Squirrel, Petaurista mishmiensis.[19]
Recently scientists found a new mammal species white cheek macaque.. it was first found in China in 2015 but its presence in India being noted recently. The discovery increased the total count of mammals in india to 438.
^Choudhury, Anwaruddin (2008) Survey of mammals and birds in Dihang-Dibang biosphere reserve, Arunachal Pradesh. Final report to Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India. The Rhino Foundation for nature in NE India, Guwahati, India. 70pp.
^Choudhury, Anwaruddin (2009). One more new flying squirrel of the genus Petaurista Link, 1795 from Arunachal Pradesh in north-east India. The Newsletter and Journal of the RhinoFoundation for nat. in NE India 8: 26–34, plates.