DIPR
Dimapur, January 5
People of Mangkolemba Sub-division and Khar villages have reported that Hornbills numbering 6 (six) arrived in the thick forest of Jangpetkong Range from other place between Christmas and New Year.
Elderly people in the Range said the forest of Jangpetkong was home to Hornbill till 1960s, but due to human interference such as hunting and deforestation, the birds deserted the forest. After almost 55 years, the Hornbills are visiting the Jangpetkong forest.
It is reported that at daytime the hornbills could be seen in different locations of the Jangpetkong Range forest that stretches nearly 20 kms, but in the evening the birds would arrive to a certain location above Mangkolemba and below Khar village where the area is steep and thickly forested.
Meanwhile, ADC, Mangkolemba, had issued an order banning the hunting of the Hornbills under Wild Life Protection Act 1972. Subsequently, the Khar Village Council also issued an order not to hunt the hornbills.
On January 4, photographers from DPRO office, Mokokchung, visited the place to capture a glimpse of the Hornbills but the birds could not be sighted. As of now one cannot state as to how long the hornbills would stay at Jangpetkong Range as most of the fruit bearing trees are no longer in the forest.
