Amur Falcon conservation monolith stone unveiled at Pangti

EMN Dimapur, Janaury 21 The six-foot stone with inscriptions and images of different awards has been unveiled near the Amur Falcon roosting site on the roadside at scenic location at Pangti village under Wokha district on Wednesday. M.Lokeswara Rao, PCCF & HoFF, chairman village council, convener and members Amur Falcon conservation, Pangti, village elders, Church leaders, students and NGOs were present on the occasion. According to a release issued by Temjen, CF (Publicity) office of PCCF & HoFF, Kohima, Lokeswara Rao said it was a historic day as the monolith of conservation of Amur falcon will become monument in future that reveals the story of efforts of Pangti peoples conservation of wildlife from generation to generation. The big conservation movement started in Nagaland with the conservation of Amur Falcon by Pangti village communities and the movement has spread all over Nagaland and communities are now committed to preserve the rich biodiversity of Nagaland. This conservation movement should continue, he said and added the Forest department had committed to protect and conserve the rich biodiversity with the help of communities. He also informed that the Pangti has been nominated for India Biodiversity Award 2016. Ronchamo Shitri, chairman Village Council, Zhankhamo Jami convenor and members Amur Falcon conservation also spoke on the occasion. The following words are inscribed on the Monolith WE ERECT THIS MONOLITH TO COMMEMORATE THE DECLARATION OF PANGTI OF NAGALAND AS FALCON CAPITAL OF THE WORLD The migratory bird Amur falcons were first spotted roosting in Pangti in the year 2001 in flock of thousands. In the subsequent years the flock increased into massive numbers. Owning to lack of awareness for conservation of Wildlife, the villagers’ hunters by tradition started hunting the birds for delicacies. In the year 2006 the hunters started using net for trapping the birds on commercial scale for sustenance. The massive killing of Falcons was brought to fore in 2012 through the efforts of conservation India and its associates, the Nagaland Wildlife& Biodiversity Trust. Following exposure of the random killing of Falcons in October 2012, Awareness campaign for protection & conservation of the migratory bird started on war footing in 2013 by State Forest & Wildlife Department and various NGOS namely , The Natural Nagas, the Wildlife Trust of India, , the Nagaland Wildlife& Biodiversity Trust, BNHS etc involving entire community village councils, churches etc. Responding to awareness campaign of State Forest & Wildlife Department& various NGOs, the village council together with the entire community resolved to protect & conserve the migratory bird Amur Falcons and prohibited killing of Falcons in any form. The conversion of hard core hunters- the most challenging group of people in the village into active conservationists responding to the various NGOS is incredible. In 2013 a team of scientists from Ministry of Environment & Forests, Wildlife Institute of India, the convention on migratory species office, the United Environment Programme Agency undertook a joint Scientific mission and on November 6th 2013 three Amur Falcons Names Naga, Wokha, Pangti were satellite tagged and released with following culler ring numbers Naga-KAMC 56801, Wokha KCM CS 6802, and Pangti KFM C 56803 In 2014 estimated millions of Amur Falcons including satellite tagged named PANGTI arrived in Pangti. Stun by largest and most spectacular roost of any species of Falcons in Pangti. A team of international Ornithologists and scientists declared Pangti of Nagaland as “Falcon Capital of World” in 2013. In recognition of its efforts for protection & conservation of migratory bird, the pangti village council has been conferred with various prestigious awards by various Agencies as follows 1. The meritorious Award 2014 by Department of Forest, Government of Nagaland. 2. The Governors Commendation Certificate Government of Nagaland 3. The Earth Heroes Awards 2014 by Royal bank of Scotland 4. The Balipara Foundation Award 2014 Assam We, The Hunters Turn Protectors Pledge To Remain Ourselves Committed As Protectionists &Conservationists Along With Rest Of The World”