A walk in virgin forest and sighting of rarest Bhutan Glory butterfly mark the day
EMN
Dimapur, October 4
Kiphire Wildlife Division (KWD) with Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB), Fakim Village Eco Club and Council celebrated Wildlife Week at Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary. Rusovil John, IFS, member secretary to NPCB and nodal officer, National Green Corps (Eco Club), Nagaland was the chief guest of the function. Every year, after Indian Board of Wildlife instituted it in the year 1952, Wildlife Week is observed during first week of October to raise general awareness among the masses about protection of wildlife. This year, due to weeklong holidays, it was re-scheduled and observed for three days from September 30 in Fakim village.
In presence of Kiusang Yimchunger, RFO, KWD, social work cleanliness drive was carried out and latrine sheds were constructed in the wake of ‘Swatchha Bharat Abhiyan’ by villagers with the help from Public Health and Engineering Department, Kiphire.
On October 1, 49 volunteers from Fakim, Thanamir and Vongtsuvong Eco Club along with North East Network (NEN), Chizami registered participation. Council chairman delivered a warm welcome note. Kamdi Hemant Bhaskar, IFS, Wildlife Warden, Kiphire underlined the need of support from adjoining community for effective conservation of wildlife in the sanctuary and urged the gathering to take care of wildlife as we care for the church, both being property for common good.
Participants shared their past conservation experiences and expectations from the programme. They emphasised on changing scenario from hunting to protection and highlighted pursuance by village youth to elders for total ban on hunting. They said that it is rare to have such awareness programme in remote place and gave assurance that with joint efforts ‘still we can recover from harm done to wildlife.’ Chonpenthung Ezung, EAC Khongsa asked people, rather than waiting for resources, to focus on low cost community based tourism enlisting the options like tree house, home stays, trekking, bird and butterfly watching, etc.
Rusovil, while talking about the importance of sanitation, appreciated cleanliness maintained by Fakim villagers and added that sanitation indicates high standard of living of people. He lauded the efforts of wildlife division in carrying out awareness activities with Eco clubs mentioning it best among the state. He mentioned Fakim as Indo-Burma frontier Wildlife Sanctuary and important mediator to connect people from far distant places, hence need to be conserved. He distributed biodiversity registers, T-shirts carrying awareness messages, Caps, books, booklets and bookmarks.
Fun part of the programme followed with pitching of tents by participants and campfire. Lighter discussion prevailed while enjoying the delicacy pork by the warmth of fire. Whole village enjoyed open-air wildlife movie screening and participants retreated to tents along with Rusovil.
Next day morning, participants rose with first ray of light and glanced quickly the wildlife field guides before assembling. ‘Dos’ and ‘Don’ts’ in the sanctuary were briefed by Hemant; prayed by Fakim Baptist Church; and excursion was flagged of by Rusovil for 75 enthusiasts. Alo, Tsuseki and Limthure guided the excursion for birds and butterfly watching. Jerdon’s Pit Viper snake and Bhutan Glory butterfly being one of the rarest, endemic to northeast and endangered in status, were sightings of the day. Bhutan Glory was sighted 17 times in very casual observation indicating good health of the ecosystem.
Participants along with Rusovil reached to Sanctuary Watch Tower which highest point at 2917-meter altitude after more than 4000 feet tedious ascent. Head GB aged over 80 years was eldest participant. Participants enjoyed the ocean of virgin greenery extending from horizon to other. Not only the birds but also villages in Myanmar were also spotted through binoculars.
After having lunch excursion marched back to the camping ground taking seven hours to finish. Medical camp was also organised by CHC, Pungro for villagers and participants. In feedback, most of the participants mentioned that walk in virgin forest and sighting of Bhutan Glory was moment of the day and requested more such programmes to organise there. NEN mentioned the whole programme as great success. Rusovil distributed certificates to all participants and everybody bid an emotional good-bye to each other.
Hemant, Wildlife Warden thanked Fakim Eco Club for taking lead and Fakim, Vongtsuvong and Thanamir Village Council, District Administration, NAAME, Working Plan Division, NEN, Medical, PHE, and Education Department for organisational help.
