Dr C Zupeni Tsanglai (IFS), Wildlife Warden, Dimapur Division, inaugurates the Daukeling-Hebamlo Community Conserved Area (CCA) in Bamsiakilwa village, dedicated to the protection of Asiatic Golden Cat.
Peren, May 27 (MExN): In a landmark conservation initiative for Nagaland, the people of Bamsiakilwa village in Peren District have declared the Daukeling-Hebamlo Community Conserved Area (CCA) for the protection of the Asiatic Golden Cat. The initiative is being recognised as the “world’s first community conserved area specifically dedicated to the conservation of this rare and threatened wild cat species.”
The declaration ceremony, held at the village, witnessed the participation of conservationists, village elders, forest officials, and local community members who collectively resolved to enforce a strict ban on hunting and disturbance to wildlife within the conserved area.
The initiative was made possible through the collective efforts of Bamsiakilwa (Hebamlo) community, the Eastern Himalayas Marbled Cat Project (EHMCP), and Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation (SWCCF). The collaboration aims to strengthen long-term habitat protection, promote community stewardship, and secure a safe future for the Asiatic Golden cat and other wildlife inhabiting the forest landscape, stated a press release received here.
The event was inaugurated by Dr C Zupeni Tsanglai (IFS), Wildlife Warden, Dimapur Division, who attended as special guest and unveiled a monolith and statue of the Asiatic Golden cat erected to mark the historic conservation initiative.
Speaking at the event, Dr Tsanglai emphasised the urgent need to conserve small wild cats and protect forests that sustain both biodiversity and human communities. She noted that healthy forests are essential for maintaining clean air, freshwater sources, and ecological balance, particularly in the face of increasing climate change impacts.
She further stressed that conserving forests today would directly benefit future generations by safeguarding water security, regulating local climate, and supporting sustainable livelihoods for communities living around these landscapes.
Pauka, Chairman of Bamsiakilwa Village, urged villagers to stop hunting and commit to the conservation of the Asiatic Golden cat and other wildlife within the conserved area. Village leaders and community representatives also stressed the importance of preserving forests for future generations and acknowledged the ecological significance of the Daukeling-Hebamlo forest landscape.
Among those present were Chunggai Pame, Chairman of New Ngaulong Village; Kereusung, Chairman of Old Ngaulong Village; and Dr Giridhar Malla, Founder of the Eastern Himalayas Marbled Cat Project (EHMCP), along with project members Atheng, Pelevizo Meyase, and Mesasieno Chase.
The Asiatic Golden cat continues to face serious threats from habitat loss, hunting, and human disturbance across its range. Conservationists believe the Daukeling-Hebamlo CCA can serve as an important model for grassroots conservation by combining traditional community governance with modern conservation practices.
