Dimapur, June 27 (EMN): A wild pigeon and a Stump-Tailed Macaque are back home in their natural home, thanks to students from Pungro in Kiphire district who said they got the animals off villagers.
The Pungro Area College Students’ Union (PACSU) issued a note to the media on Thursday informing about events concerning the two animals.
The union said to have received information regarding the possession of a species of monkey and a wild pigeon from unidentified people at Pungro. The students rescued the two which were later released to their habitats.
‘On the 19th of June, a bird commonly known as ‘wild pigeon’ was caught by a villager in the vicinity of Khongjiri village and subsequently brought to Pungro. The union’s officials seized it and released it to its natural habitat,’ the union stated.
Again, on the 25th, the students said to have seized what they identified as a Stump-Tailed Macaque. It was caught from across the border i.e., Myanmar by locals. It was brought to Pungro, the union stated.
“It may be mentioned that the rescued monkey is enlisted as ‘vulnerable’ in the conservation status by IUCN and is protected under India Wildlife Act, 1972. The rescued Monkey was released at Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary in the presence of Wildlife Division Kiphire along with the community leaders,” the union stated.
The students lamented that some individuals have been clandestinely engaged in procuring wildlife to keep them as pets. The union assured to remain vigilant. It has directed it constituent units to strictly enforce the resolutions comprehensively and initiate stringent action against those violating the rules.
The PACSU thanked the Wildlife division of Kiphire, Fakim Village Council, Fakim Village Students’ Union and the Bhutan Glory Eco-Tourism Club for their intervention and assistance.
