‘Bird’s population in steep decline in the state’

Dimapur, Oct. 7 (EMN): CF and Director Intanki National Park YM Jami lamented that the bird’s population has steeply declined in recent times after feeding on the carcass of cattle which were administered psychotropic drugs (Diclofenac) and as such poses a serious environmental hazards. Addressing the observation programme of Wildlife Week at the Government Higher Secondary School, Half Nagarjan on Oct. 6, Jami cited an example of how vultures play an important role in keeping ecosystem healthy and clean by feeding on decomposed carcasses of dead animals and thereby prevents the spread of deadly diseases. He also mentioned the example of a bee and its importance in pollination. Jami also enlightened the participants on the success story of amur falcon conservation and satellite tagging of the bird. Stating that all the wildlife contribute to the environment in one way or the other, Jami appealed to the students and participants to preserve, care and value wildlife without which human beings would be doomed. Principal of Government Higher Secondary School, Half Nagarjan in her speech stressed on how various developmental activities has led to the degradation of wildlife habitat resulting in rapid depletion of wildlife in the state and stressed on the need to effectively conserve the same for they are our life resources. A biologist from Blyth Tragopan and Breeding Centre Magdaline spoke on the distribution, population, reproduction, threat to bird and conservation status accorded to the state bird. She appealed to the participants with a special invitation to the student community to pass on the message of conservation of the bird. The programme was organised by Wildlife division, Dimapur under the theme “Understanding the voiceless animals,” with the participation of principal, headmaster, teachers, students, officials and staffs from wildlife division, Dimapur, Blyth Tragopan Breeding centre, Kohima and SEFTI Dimapur. As part of Wildlife Week programme, activities such as essay and drawing competition were organised for Junior and senior level and open quiz competition with Forester-I, Wildlife Crime Control unit, Longshak as the quizmaster. The Wildlife Warden of Dimapur Caroline Angami, gave away the prize to the winners. Posters, bookmarks were also distributed to all the participants. Altogether about 250 participants attended the programme.