Peren Forest Div steps up wildlife crime control

In line with the campaign to protect the environment vis-à-vis wildlife with special reference to Amur Falcon in the district, Peren forest division has drawn up protection plans to check and control hunting, killing, trapping, trade and conveyance of any wildlife species to and from the district with the active participation of the administration, police and local NGOs.

Speaking at the DPDB Peren meeting on October 7, DFO Peren division Samuel Changkija highlighted the importance of according a safe passage to the visiting migratory birds to save the national and global image which has been shown in poor light due to the reported killing of the birds during the previous years.

The decision of the state government to stop grant-in-aid of villages indulging in rampant killing and massacre of Amur falcon was also read.   

With a clear conscience of a better-preventive-than-punitive approach, Peren forest division has embarked upon a massive awareness campaign exercises during the early part of October this year; successfully reaching out to all village councils, churches and schools concentrating around Jalukie, Ngwalwa and Barak valley roosting sites.

A chain of awareness programmes were also in the offing; out of which programmes at Jalukie and Ngwalwa were already organized during October, while similar programmes would be held in other places in the month of November.

Visual awareness campaign were also embarked upon conveying the message “Save Amur Falcon- let us make Peren district safe for Amur Falcon”, whereby vehicle stickers were prepared and pasted on vehicles, flexi-banners erected at strategic locations in Peren, Jalukie, Athibung and Tening towns, pamphlets containing government orders distributed to all the villages, churches and schools.

Peren forest division has also intensified its usual wildlife patrol and mobile units by establishing three anti-poaching cells stationed at Jalukie, Ntu and Athibung.

In this regard, with the collective effort of forest department along with the district administration, police, tribal hohos (Zeliangrong Baudi & Kuki Inpi), Churches and NGOs, the Peren forest division is witnessing increased level of awareness amongst the local people; which is evident from the decreased rate of instances of hunting and wildlife trade in the district since October this year.

Peren forest division said it was encouraged to witness many village councils and NGOs stepping out for wildlife conservation today; forming themselves into voluntary groups to control hunting in their own village, some villages resolving to cancel NREGS job cards of wildlife offenders in their village even to the extent of banishment from village if convicted by government authorities.

According to Peren forest division, presently one can see a change in Peren district at all levels; village councils; churches and schools disseminating the message of nature conservation.