A
YouTuber from Nagaland has joined the list of people who have landed in trouble
for hunting animals and birds protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act,
1972. The office of the Wildlife Division, Dimapur, has summoned the influencer
for sharing content on hunting and consumption of a ‘Checkered keelback’
(Asiatic water snake), which is protected under Schedule 1 of the Act. This has
ignited a heated debate on social media platforms, with some arguing that
hunting shouldn’t be banned, terming it “Naga culture” and that it is unfair to
single out a few when most Nagas consume exotic food like the meat of wild
animals, while others express the need to conserve wildlife for maintaining
ecological balance. Well, it is true that our ancestors hunted wild animals for
survival. But is there any society, community or race in this world with no
hunting culture? There may be none. Hunting is deeply rooted in human history
and cultures but the realisation of irreversible damage it can cause to our eco
system has completely changed the way we view nature. The complete turnaround
witnessed at Pangti village in Nagaland, from gaining notoriety for hunting
Amur falcons to becoming a safe haven for the migratory birds in a short span
of time, is a classic example of this realisation; so too the discarding of the
head-hunting practice which was once a part of culture but is considered
barbaric today. What people did (occupation), ate and wore a few decades ago is
not the same anymore. Even the weapons used for hunting have transformed over
the years, from traditional tools like bows and arrows, spears and catapults
(slingshots) to sophisticated modern equipment airguns and firearms, which has
caused rapid depletion of wildlife population. Many animal and plant species
that were once found in abundance in the state have become a rare sight today,
thanks to our irresponsible activities. If this trend continues, many species
can go extinct, and it can trigger a domino effect, a big reason why we can’t
allow hunting in the name of “culture”.
The
concerned authorities have been initiating action, particularly against those
who have been found openly flouting the Wildlife (Protection) Act by way of
sharing photos and video clips of hunted animals on social media platforms. We
should appreciate the move and assist the officials instead of resorting to
convenient narratives by citing unaccounted cases. To effectively stop the
killing of protected animals, those found violating the law should be reported
to the concerned authorities. It may be worth informing that offences under the
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, attract varying degrees of protection, with
those falling in Schedule I and Schedule II (Part II), out of the total six
schedules, subject to more severe penalties, which include imprisonment for a
minimum of three years and up to seven years; a minimum fine of INR 25,000 and
up to INR 100,000, or both. The Checkered keelback is listed in Schedule I; it
is considered an endangered or critically endangered species. It is important
to educate the public about the Act – provisions and penalties – as we are
still in a transitioning stage. On one hand, the first-time offenders who are
genuinely unaware of the existing law, especially those from remote areas,
deserve leniency; on the other hand, there is a need to set a precedent for
violation of the Act. We need to employ a balanced approach.
