ITANAGAR, March 9 - In a move to protect wildlife, the traditional village council �Nguang-Awang�, of Kaimai village in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh has decided to ban hunting of wild birds in the village and its peripheries with immediate effect.
While presiding over the meeting held in the village�s Paang (male dormitory) on Tuesday, the village council chief Khamwang Lowang expressed serious concern over the drastic fall in population of birds in the village due to over-hunting and destruction of habitats.
He said the villagers of Kaimai had an emotional relationship with wild creatures, adding that the beautiful wild birds and animals found mention in the Nocte folk songs. He recalled how their ancestors loved and cared the nature by venerating her during various occasions and creating conducive environs to live in perfect harmony with her.
Lankham Wangsu, a village council member, said: �The Kaimai village council is contemplating to impose a blanket ban on hunting to save the few precious wild animals that are roaming freely in the wild.�
He informed that use of traditional instruments and traps to snare birds like catapult, bow, wakhaap, wosoot ney, etc., has been banned in the village with immediate effect.
Wangsu further said, the village council envisages banning use of electrocution, large nets, poison and blasting (gelatin) while fishing, adding that the council would only encourage traditional mode of fishing.
It was informed that the lone river Chatjo near Kaimai village and all the water bodies have become barren, bereft of any fish and other aquatic life due to unscientific and wanton use of wrong fishing methods. The villagers have appreciated the bold and much-needed decision of the village council.
