Peren has become favourite hunting ground, rues Nagaland Deputy CM

DIMAPUR — Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland, T.R. Zeliang, on Wednesday urged the people of Peren district to seriously embrace the culture of wildlife conservation, especially the great hornbill, which is also the state bird, in line with the conservation policy of the Nagaland government.

Addressing government officials and community leaders at the Peren DPDB meeting in the DC’s Conference Hall, Zeliang lamented that many exotic species of flora and fauna in the biodiversity-rich district are being exterminated due to intemperate exploitation through hunting and logging.

He stressed the urgent need to adopt a more serious method of conservation in the district, saying that ‘Peren has become a favourite hunting ground for all sorts of people because of its rich wildlife population and easy accessibility not only from the district but also from different parts of the state’.

The only national park of the state, Intangki, has also become a favourite hunting spot, leading to a gradual decrease in the population of wildlife, he rued, adding that people continue to hunt unabated, especially in the interior area, despite the ban order from the district administration.

In this regard, he urged the community leaders to formulate a stricter community-based regulation on hunting and conservation of biodiversity in their respective areas, according to an update from the Dy CM’s office.

“Hunting cannot be completely ban as it is part of our traditions since time immemorial but there has to be a proper regulation from the villages or community,” he was quoted as saying.

He went on to say that tourist inflow is expected to increase in the district with the improvement in road connectivity and that wildlife will become the main attraction for visitors.

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