Now Manipur pegs its green pigeons’ population

Our Correspondent Imphal, April 3 (EMN): Documentation of birds has been started in the hill district of Tamenglong too – considering the importance of conserving Manipur’s biodiversity. Tamenglong borders with Assam’s Haflong and Nagaland’s Peren areas. Wildlife Warden Nehemiah Panmei of Tamenglong district along with Mordecai Panmei of The Corbett Foundation, who is a member of The Rainforest Club Tamenglong, took up the initiative recently –coinciding with the arrival of flowering season. The documentation of birds was taken up at Atengba village, located on the western flank of Tamenglong district and located about 100 km west of the state capital. The village is rich in biodiversity having the most scenic and panoramic Zeilad Lake on one side while a salt lick sits on the other side towards the Makru River. Generally the thick-billed green pigeon (Azuinah) and pin-tailed green pigeon (Ngamzainah) have been flocking the village every year during March to August for as long as the villagers can remember. Locally known as Ngamzainah and Azuinah, these colourful resident birds of the state also often features in Rongmei devotional songs. In the ongoing birds documentation exercise in order to conserve its bio-diversity, the villagers of Atengba and Charinapeng villages were also sensitised through talks and field works where the locals took to the role of expert and guides, Mordecai of The Rainforest Club Tamenglong said. The sensitising exercise had a positive impact on the villagers who had even dismantled old traps in and around the villages, it was informed. Hunting of these birds for consumption and commercial purpose was one of the main sources of the villagers’ livelihood, according to various media reports. But since the last two years, the villagers have taken up a new initiative to protect the birds when they visit the salt lick. As a result, these birds are safe in their natural habitat. According to RK Birjit, state coordinator of Indian Bird Conservation Network, green pigeon is widely available in most parts of the state except in the high altitude areas. In winter, many migratory birds, particularly Amur Falcon, visits Tamenglong every year, it was informed.