Nagas, Natural Heritage

•Sir-Nature has been kind to Nagaland, sometimes referred to as “Switzerland of the East”; the exquisitely picturesque landscapes, the vibrantly colourful sunrise and sunset, lush and verdant flora and fauna.... this is the land that represents unimaginable beauty, Where there is green coated valleys and hills with thick forests, can the wild animals live far from this place? Nagaland is also no exception in that case hosting a number of wildlife sanctuaries. The Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary and Intangki Wildlife Sanctuary may vary in their floral variation but the treasure of animals is very same with tiger, elephant, hoolock gibbon, gibbon and many others. Housing many species of endangered birds places like khonoma, Ghosu Bird Sanctuary, Saramati range to mention a few are an Eden for bird lovers moulded perfectly for a breath taking experience. Imagining Nagaland back 200 years ago it must have been a natural paradise with triple the rich natural wealth we still posses today.
What have we Nagas today done to all the Old trees which are 100 years old. Our fore fathers have conserved all those for centuries and we gut them down in a decade and not even concerned a little bit to the danger it will bring in the near future. The critically and globally endangered species of flora and fauna are been exploited to the hilt. And the most outrageous of all, why would anyone kill animals from its cage?  Something which is a mystery for me is where are the caretakers of those caged wild animals? Are they meant for a cage? If so why is it considered a wild animal instead of a domestic one? There are news in the local dailies of birds and wild animals being sold in the market. What is the government doing to control all these clandestine exploitation of our natural resources? Is it only the duty of the government and our officers to do something for all these? What I feel is a BIG NO because we are all facing the problem of global warming
(some greedy individuals who in order to become rich have cut down all our trees), landslides (nobody gives a second thought to throw a sweet wrapper or a plastic bag which paves way for most of our landslides), what will you say (10 years down the line) if your son / daughter ask you “ where have all the trees, birds, wild animals and the unimaginable natural beauty which we are so proud of today have gone” ???????? You can’t just scratch your head, which is not an answer. We are boosting of the HORNBILL FESTIVEL, but is anything done to conserve the majestic bird? Are we aware that it might be impossible to find the Great Indian Hornbill in Nagaland!!!!!!!!  Its very nice to see headlines such as   “Nagaland bags Most Picturesque Destination Award 2008” “A Forgotten Mountain Region Rediscovered” “Rare bird found in Nagaland” but at the same time its so sad when we wakes up and realize that instead of such splendors we find ourselves surrounded by bald mountains with hardly any water, no birds or wild animals around. Just ask yourself these questions. Is this possible? Is there anything I can do to help?   
Wake up my Naga Brothers, Sisters, Uncles and Aunts, its high time we do something in real; not just paperwork’s and money (which we are very fond off) for the sake of your children and mine and the coming generations before its too late. Are you aware that the road you are heading leads to nowhere but a precipice and a dead end.  Let us help one another save and conserve the little natural wealth we still have. “We held the land in trust, we are free to use it as long as it was kept for the next generations, your sons and mine” Louis L’Amour.
ANGULIE MEYASE
Nature Watch.