DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 3 (MExN): Minister Forest, Environment Climate Change, CM Chang today stressed on the importance of conserving wildlife to mark the beginning of the 64th Wildlife Week from October 2 to 8.
A press note from the Minister congratulated the people of the state for their conservation efforts and focused on the theme of this year's Wildlife Week—"Big Cats: Predators under Threat". The big cats include animals such as lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, cheetah, snow leopard, puma, clouded leopard etc.
He appealed to the citizens of the state to extend their support to the Forest Department towards a concerted approach in protecting and conserving the rich wildlife of the State. Public support and participation is no longer a choice now but an absolute necessity in wildlife conservation, he said.
The big cat populations are declining at a staggering rate as a result of mostly human-induced threats such as habitat loss, poaching, illegal trade, human-wildlife conflict, and climate change, Chang pointed out. Statistics show that the world lost over 90 percent of its Tigers in the 20th century while Lion populations have fallen by two-fifths in just 20 years.
“Events such as this highlight the responsibility of the Government and the people of the State to join hands in protecting the big cats by increasing its prey base and the protected area network. We must do our utmost in protecting these magnificent and charismatic creatures,” he said.
In Nagaland, the Minister said that “our forefathers were dependent on the forest and hunted wild animals for food and their basic survival.” Now, the state of Nagaland is developing like other parts of the country, he stated.
“Plenty of edible materials are now readily available without the need for hunting wildlife. Thus, people are coming forward for protection and conservation of forest and wildlife. The latest example is protection of Amur Falcons and the State has been recognized as the Falcon's capital of the world,” Chang said.
He said that the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 were in conflict with the cultural practices of Nagas. However, he added that since December 18, 1981, the Government of Nagaland has been taking steps to ensure proper implementation of this Act by looking into the importance of forest and wildlife and by educating the people and raising awareness.
Chang signed off by quoting a message from renowned British broadcaster, David Attenborough who once said: "In my lifetime I have seen something of the marvellous range of wild species with which we share the planet. But due to changes which today afflict the world, no one born tomorrow will have the opportunity to see such variety. We must surely do all we can to protect what remains".
The observation of the Wildlife Week is organized every year in the country, coinciding with the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri to offer an opportunity in raising awareness and invigorating the commitment for preservation of the unique flora and fauna diversity that we have inherited from our forefathers.
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