Two young visitors at the stall in Kisama.
Dimapur, December 3 (MExN): The Nagaland Forest Department and Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) – India with support from Nagaland Tourism Department is sensitizing locals and visitors at the ongoing Hornbill Festival, about the conservation need and efforts for some of the rarest wildlife of the state as Bylth’s Tragopan, Pied Hornbill, Amur Falcon and especially the Asian Giant Tortoise (Manouria emys), the largest tortoise species of mainland Asia facing unprecedented decline due to traditional hunting culture.
With live size tortoise models, handy resources materials, signature campaign pledging to ‘Save Manouria’ and a selfie corner, the stall is an absolute earnest attempt to infuse, a conservation culture in these ethnic communities and attract global attention on the plight of one of the most primitive living tortoises, stated a press release from TSA India.
Dr Shailendra Singh, Director, TSA India said, “This is the first time in 22 years where attempts of incorporating wildlife conservation into the cultures and tradition of the Nagas has been made while drawing contrast to the criticisms made on the indigenous hunting traditions.”
Attracting 250 visitors on the first day, over 150 people put their signatures to support “Save Manouria - The Pride of Nagaland”.
Sushmita Kar, TSA India's project officer at Nagaland stated that its participation ‘could be a torchbearer, promoting the conservation of threatened wildlife in the region while amassing the regional community support.”
