Stop the Hunting of Wildlife in India

Hello Friend,

Your support keeps our dream of securing the natural heritage of India alive. We at Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), thank you from the bottom of our hearts. This month, we bring to you an update from a quaint village in Arunachal Pradesh.

Located in the rich biodiverse Eastern Himalayan foothills at a height of 6,000 ft in Shi Yomi district of Arunachal Pradesh is the village of Mechuka. Inhabited by the indigenous clan of Memba, Adi, Lebo and Tagin communities, even today the region traditionally practices hunting and fishing in the region. Earlier hunting was merely for self-consumption purposes but today the increase in demand and the desire to make additional income out of it, has affected several species that were once commonly found in the landscape. However, many communities in remote areas of Arunachal Pradesh even today abide by the customary rules to avoid overharvesting and help maintain the balance in the ecosystem. Last year WTI, with the help of GlobalGiving supported the Mechuka Ecotourism and Conservation Society (MECS) to create a platform to bring together District council members, Forest department, Village heads and community groups for a meeting to discuss the status of hunting and need for some regulation in the landscape.

Following this meeting the Forest department was also actively working with the communities in selecting individuals from each village in the district to keep vigilance on hunting activities in the area. Earlier this year, following information that wild animals are being hunted and their meat was sold in local shops the West Siang Divisional Forest Officer, Mr. Abhinav Kumar and team raided a roadside shop near Hirgo village in Shi Yomi district to find a large Indian Civet (Viverra zibetha) (Protected under Schedule II Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972) hidden inside a basket. The animal was immediately rescued and the culprits were arrested on site.

To curb such practices in areas and sensitize the locals to “Stop Hunting and Protect Wildlife” Wildlife Trust of India along with the Aalong Forest Division got wooden signboards designed by local artists. The signboards targeted key species that were often hunted like Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus), Red panda (Ailurus fulgens), Black necked crane (Grus nigricollis), Himalayan Musk Deer (Moschus leucogaster) etc.

On the occasion of World Environment Day, DFO, Mr. Abhinav Kumar and team, Along Forest division and MECS organised a programme on the role of environment, negative impact of depleting natural resources and need to protect wildlife. To mark this day, the locally designed signboards were officially inaugurated and installed in strategic three towns Tato, Mechuka and Monigong in Shi Yomi District. Acknowledging WTI’s support, the DFO states “The Along Forest Division has been working to restrict this practice of hunting in the Mechuka Range and these informative banners will further help convey the message to the masses”. This initiative thus marked a good beginning to spread the word “Keep our wildlife forever wild” in Shi Yomi district.

Best,

Team WTI