Forest dept implements Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
Chizokho Vero
Kohima | April 29
Of late, several legislators of the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly have come down on the use of wild animals and birds as gift items or serving in feasts.
Calling the attention of the people to preserve wildlife, Forest Minister Y. Patton, recently, cautioned that anybody who comes with wild animals and birds will not be entertained even into his compound.
Concerned over the use of wild animal or bird meat on the item of food/refreshment provided for VIPs and dignitaries, the state’s home department through a memorandum stated that such practice should be discouraged by disallowing special hunting expeditions for the occasion or to honour a visiting dignitary.
On fishing trips, the memorandum advised that except for traditional fishing methods, organizers of such trips should be discouraged from fishing expeditions where explosives and chemicals are used.
In the meantime, alarmed by the fate of endangered wildlife species in Nagaland, several district administrations, NGOs and village councils have started imposing ban on hunting and sale of wild animals and birds.
With this, the indiscriminate hunting of wild animals and birds could be decreasing in the state. Fine or seizure of guns are actions taken by the administration against the defaulters.
The state’s forest department implements the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (as amended in 2002). This Act adopts a two-pronged conservation strategy; specified endangered species are to be protected regardless of location and all species are to be protected. The objective of the Act is to arrest the rapid decline, and provide protection to, wildlife population. The Act also strives at regulating hunting of wild animals and birds.
Through an Amendment Bill, 2002, the amended Act proposes to create two new categories of Protected Areas, i.e., Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves.
Creating awareness among the public about the importance of conserving fauna of the state is being done by the department through publicity, display of posters, conducting seminars, celebration of wildlife week. A regular squad is formed under Wildlife Warden, Dimapur for prevention of sale of wildlife products and several seizures have been made by the squad.
Various divisional forest officials who are also ex-officio wildlife wardens have been directed to enforce patrolling and also exercise more vigilance at check gates.
“The state has diverse flora and fauna and is a mega biodiversity area. Its conservation and management and that of its habitat have been one of our priority areas,” the department stated.
Source said Intanki National Park with an area of 202 sq.km forms as important elephant corridor with the adjoining state of Assam.
Singphan Reserve Forest located in Mon District was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 2009. This sanctuary forms an important elephant corridor with Abhaypur Reserve Forest of Assam and is also home to wild elephants, wild boars, civet etc. The wildlife sanctuary is spread over an area of 5825 acres (2357 ha.). Proposals are under progress for developmental works and activities for conservation and management of wildlife in the sanctuary.
Apart from this, Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary spread over an area of 641.5 ha. is assisted by Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for integrated development of wildlife habitat. This sanctuary is home to rare species like Mrs. Hume’s pheasant, mouse deer, Blyth’s Tragopan etc.
The Forest department said it is essential to identify potential areas for conservation since the state has about 11.7% forests under its control while the remaining 88.3% is under private/community ownership. In this regard, as an outcome of creating awareness among the community about the benefits of conservation, many communities have taken the initiative to set aside sizeable areas for conservation. Under the CSS programme Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats, certain areas have been identified and proposed for community reserves. Three such community reserves- Bonchu under Tseminyu Sub Division (Kohima District), Khrokhropfu under Meluri Sub Division (Phek district) and Mopungchuket (Mokokchung district) have been proposed. The objective of the programme is to ensure total involvement of the community in managing and conserving habitats.
The state Zoological Park, Rangapahar, houses as many as 78 animals, of which there are 57 mammals, 21 birds and four reptiles. Among these, some unique species such as Clouded Leopard, Snow Loris, Hoolock Gibbon, Himalayan Asiatic Black bears are being exhibited.
The park intends to add more animals by way of acquisitions from other zoos and proposal for construction of additional enclosures for the animals has been submitted to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA).
At Kohima, in the old Zoo area Blyth’s Tragopan Breeding and Conservation Centre has been proposed comprising construction of aviary, brooding pen, hatching units, quarantine unit and the same has been submitted to CZA, the department stated.
