Guwahati: The Nagaland Forest Department and Turtle Survival Alliance – India, with the support of the Nagaland Tourism Department, used this platform to raise awareness about the conservation needs and efforts for some of the state’s rarest wildlife, including Blyth’s Tragopan, Pied Hornbill, Amur Falcon, and especially the Asian Giant Tortoise (Manouria emys), the largest tortoise species on mainland Asia, which is facing unprecedented decline due to traditional hunting culture.
This stall is an absolute earnest attempt to instill a conservation culture in these ethnic communities and attract global attention to the plight of one of the most primitive living tortoises, with live size tortoise models, handy resource materials, a signature campaign pledging to ‘Save Manouria’ and a selfie corner.
This is the first time in 22 years that attempts have been made to include animal conservation within the customs and traditions of the Nagas, in contrast to the critiques made on indigenous hunting traditions,” stated Dr. Shailendra Singh, Director, Turtle Survival Alliance India.
Over 150 people signed the wall, adding their voices to the resounding slogan “Save Manouria – The Pride of Nagaland,” which attracted 250 visitors on the first day.