Predatory instinct of man : Targeting ‘Manipur’
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: November 12 2018 -

Let it be very clear. In killing the satellite tagged Amur Falcon, the poachers or hunters figuratively also killed Manipur for remember it was with a reason that the satellite tagged bird was named Manipur while the female counterpart was named Tamenglong.

It was to announce to the world that to many Amur Falcons Tamenglong district in Manipur is the favoured home of the migratory bird.

It was with a reason that the Union Home Ministry came out with the Arms Rules in 2016 wherein getting a firearm licence under the Indian Arms Act of 1959 was not only made more difficult but also brought air guns among other less lethal fire arms under the ambit of licence.

Here it becomes important to raise certain embarrassing questions, for more often than not, it is the very set of people who live close to nature or wildlife who are more frequently found to be violating nature and killing Amur Falcon is certainly a violation of nature.

More intense awareness campaign is no doubt the need of the hour, but let it be very clear that no amount of awareness campaign will bear fruits, if the set of people who live close to nature or wildlife do not undergo a change in mindset.

The most effective answer will lie in education.

Make the syllabus on wildlife protection in schools more stringent.

Make it a compulsory subject to be passed till the Class X level.

This can go some way in educating the people on the need to protect wildlife in the State.

And when one talks about wildlife, it is not only Amur Falcons, but other species too.

It is November now and more migratory birds will come to other parts of the State.

An example here is Shirui Kashong, the abode of Shirui Lily and a place which must be now familiar with the people, given that the Shirui Lily Festival has been a hit amongst all.

It will not be long before migratory birds flock to Shirui Kashong and this is when hunters are known to bring out their kits to capture the migratory birds in large number.

The birds come to Shirui Kashong to feed on a fruit and this is when bird traps, locally made from a tree gum are used to net the birds.

Locals of Shirui village need to be taught on the importance of protecting the migratory birds that come to Shirui Kashong every year during November and December.

There are other places in the valley area, especially at the periphery of Loktak Lake where a number of migratory birds too come.

What steps have been taken up at these places where migratory birds, including wild ducks are reported to come every year ?

One Amur Falcon killed made big news here and this is precisely because it was satellite tagged.

The point is there must have been hundreds of other Amur Falcons which must have already been killed and which went undetected.

Get local clubs involved in a big way to protect wildlife and yes if the need arises, let there be stringent penalties too.

In short protecting wildlife means protecting mankind and this is a point which must be stressed to everyone.