Killing of wildlife continues in Nagaland

Kohima: In Nagaland, despite continued awareness programmes, seminars, workshops, warning to impose fine to Village Councils and ban order by local students and youth bodies, killing of wildlife continues unabated.
In a release, the Wildlife Crime Control Unit of Dimapur said on Wednesday last during routine highway patrolling along National Highway 29, it seized 32 dead wild birds from different road side stalls between Medziphema Town and Pherima Village under Dimapur district. The WCC unit informed that the culprits selling the illegal wildlife items fled on seeing the patrol party, leaving behind the items.
The seized wildlife items includes 2 Red Jungle Fowl, 12 Yellow Footed Green Pigeon, 3 Red Vented Bulbul, one Blue Throated Barbet, 2 Mynah, one Asian Pied Sterling, one Golden Fronted Leafbird and 10 larks. All the seized wildlife items were disposed of by burning and burying in the presence of officials of the Department at Forest Office Complex in Dimapur on the day the items were seized, they claimed. The WCCU of Dimapur said even after extensive awareness and repeated warning given to the public to abstain from wildlife crimes; certain individuals had been involved in those unlawful activities.
The unit noted that such activities were a serious offense under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and arrested offenders can be penalized with fine up to Rs 25,000 or imprisonment up to 7 years or both. Various assistances had been given to villages, under whose jurisdiction the wildlife offences has been detected, would be curtailed, the unit warned. (UNI)