Local YouTuber arrested for wildlife offences in Nagaland

DIMAPUR — A local YouTuber, identified as Vikuto Swu (28) from Lazami village, has been detained by the Wildlife Crime Control Unit, Wildlife Division, Dimapur on charges of wildlife offences.

Swu, who runs the YouTube channel “Sumi Huthuva Vlogs,” is accused of creating, documenting, and sharing content related to the hunting and trapping of wildlife on his platform. The arrest follows specific inputs received from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Eastern Region, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF and CC), according to an update received here on Thursday.

“The accused has been detained by the Wildlife Crime Control Unit for further interrogation and will be dealt with as per relevant section of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972,” it said.

The authorities have issued a public reminder urging citizens to refrain from creating, sharing, or consuming content that promotes hunting, trapping, or consumption of wild animals and birds on social media platforms. Displaying or sharing any wildlife items through social media is a serious offence and punishable under the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972, it said.