The Department of Environment, Forests & Climate Change today observed the Wildlife Week at Mokokchung with minister for Forest, Environment & Climate Change and Village Guards, C L John as the special guest to the event, celebrated at Town Hall, Mokokchung on 6th October, 2026.
Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play
Minister for Forest, Environment & Climate Change and Village Guards, C L John, speaking on the occasion said, it is our shared responsibility to conserve and protect our wildlife that nature has provided us. We have done away with headhunting with the coming of Christianity but have still become hunters of wildlife. He said, this practice needed to be stopped and replaced with conservation efforts.
Expressing his appreciation to the two Villages in Peren and 141 Villages under Mon Districts for conservation efforts, he said, years ago these village communities have entered into an understanding not to hunt or kill animals or cut down trees and instead come forward with an initiative to protect wildlife and encourage afforestation. They have become protectors and guardians of wildlife.
He therefore also appealed to the village and church leaders, teachers and the entire community in the district, and called to lead in action and help sensitize and spread the Wildlife Act, protection and its offences thereof in their respective areas.
Development Commissioner & Principal Secretary to EF&CC, Kikheto Sema, emphasizing on the theme of the event “Connecting Habitats, Thriving Wildlife”, said, that it is very important to maintain a balance ecosystem and as we co-exist with nature, it is our duty to take care of the resources that nature has placed before us.
He also said that, Wildlife Protection Act 1972 is a central act, however the state has adopted and passed the Wildlife Act in 1981, thereby becoming the act applicable even to the state. Thereafter, the Act has witnessed many amendments in several years.
The state Wildlife Crime branch was established on 30th September 2015. In few years, the branch has witnessed 74 wildlife offences made and registered. While 69 cases were penalized, 5 cases were registered in courts- 2 cases were solved and 3 cases remain unresolved.
Regarding the mitigation for human- elephant conflict, Sema informed that the department is making its proper research, which will then translate into all local dialects to sensitize even at the village levels.
Noting Church as the strongest social institutions, Sema appealed to the church leaders to spread awareness regarding the wildlife Protection Act. He also called for a community participation initiative and requested the Village councils, elders, students and public to come together to protect our wildlife.
Wildlife week is an annual week long celebration from 2nd to 8th October, aimed at spreading awareness and to protect wildlife.
Earlier, the program was chaired by CoF (NTC), Aochuba, IFS, while welcome address was delivered by PCCF & HoFF, Vedpal Singh, IFS.
