Following in Nagaland’s Footsteps, Arunachal Pradesh Vows to Protect Wildlife

Following in the footsteps of Nagaland, another North-Eastern state, Arunachal Pradesh, has initiated a campaign to protect the wildlife and forests. Though the state’s tribal population has a long history of hunting wild animals for survival, the state government is determined to save the wildlife.

On March 17, the state government started a campaign, which inspired the people to surrender their air guns and rifles. Through this campaign, people were also encouraged to give up hunting wild animals and birds.

Since then Natung, Chief Minister Prem Khandu, Union Minister of Youth Affairs, and Sports Kiren Rijiju along with top officials of Environment Forests and Wildlife Department have staged numerous events in districts as well as far-flung areas. The campaign has received a positive response. During these events, people have come in large numbers to surrender their hunting weapons.

Arunachal Pradesh’s Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Water Resources, Environment and Forest, Mama Natung said,

This campaign is an initiative of the state government to dissuade hunting and create awareness on the ill effects of killing wildlife. So far 680 airguns and a few rifles have been voluntarily surrendered by the people and they willingly vowed not to hunt birds and animals. The government is giving encouraging certificates to those who are surrendering air guns and rifles.

The state government is also considering framing suitable policies to give some support to those people who would be affected after depositing air guns and rifles to the government.

As per the state government, the tribal population has been dependent upon wildlife and forests. Tribal people have been cutting forests and hunting wild animals and birds without realizing its impact on environmental challenges like global warming and climate change.

The wildlife of Arunachal is equally rich and varied – elephants and tigers abound, especially in the grassy foothills. Leopards and jungle cats are quite common in the state. The white-browed gibbon is found in Tirap and Lohit districts and red pandas and musk deer inhabit the higher ranges.

Arunachal Pradesh government has started a campaign to protect wildlife and inspired people to surrender their hunting weapons | Image: TripHills

Amur falcons were being hunted and killed indiscriminately in several places in Nagaland. In 2013, Nagaland successfully safeguarded migratory birds by launching a campaign to safeguard these birds. As a result of the combined efforts of the state government, the state’s forest department, NGOs, and locals, they were successful in their cause. Since then villagers have refrained from hunting these birds, thanks to the campaign.

Via: The Assam Tribune