Officials and participants during the celebration of Wildlife Week 2023 held at Hopongkyu Memorial Hall, Kiphire on October 7. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Kiphire | October 8
The celebration of Wildlife Week 2023 was organised by Kiphire Wildlife Division in collaboration with Kiphire Forest Division and Evergreen Welfare Society under the theme ‘partnership for wildlife conservation’ on October 7. The programme was held at Hopongkyu Memorial Hall and lead by Chupitho, ACF Kiphire forest division.
Addressing the occasion as special guest, Y Atsase Thongtsar, Secretary to Government of Nagaland, Department of Environment Forest & Climate Change, stressed the importance of conserving forest saying, “where there is good forest, wildlife flourish and we get fresh air and clean water.”
He suggested the Church to organise Wildlife Sunday where the congregations are made aware on importance of wildlife.
While encouraging the villagers to conserve the rich forest, he added that government identifies the hard work of the people put into the conservation of forest and wildlife. He hoped that though there is scarcity of funds, the villagers will get help from the government to further strengthen the sustainability of wildlife.
Thanking all who participated in the competition organised by the forest department, he said this participation will inculcate an importance of wildlife in the mind and life of the students.
The guest speaker, Longdiba SDO (C) Kiphire observed that “while in the past the weather of Kiphire was pleasant and favourable, at present the weather is becoming very warm and unpleasant.” He reasoned that “one big reason could be because of Logging and deforestation on large scale in the district.” The SDO (C) also mentioned that “there are lesser number of birds and animals in our forest area because of excessive hunting and illegal poaching.”
“It is high time we should all put our head and hearts together to preserve wildlife, which is a treasure to our life,” he urged.
Maintaining that there are many department and NGOs who are dedicated to conservation of wildlife, the SDO (C) urged the villagers and students to connect with the right channel with the same objective.
In another address, Lima, Wildlife Warden, Kiphire division spoke on conservation of plants and animals, stating a quote “shoot with camera not with guns.”
All the school students who participated in the recent competition conducted by the Forest Department Kiphire were awarded.
