Dimapur, May 5 (EMN): Trade on wildlife is a common phenomenon in Manipur and the people of Tamenglong is not an exception to this. The forest of Tamenglong is a home to various animals and birds which are already rare and endangered due to excessive exploitation and hunting.
However, animals and birds are being targeted by wildlife traffickers and hunters for the food, medicinal purposes (mostly traditional beliefs) and pet trade.
Rainforest Club Tamenglong is working to reduce hunting and raise voices against illegal trading on these endangered.
In a good gesture the Rainforest Club Tamenglong (RCT) has rescued a rare and endangered Malayan Leaf Turtle and released into the Dailong’s biodiversity heritage site in Tamenglong district on May 3, an updated from Manipur stated.
The Rain forest club, Tamenglong member Mordecai Panmei informed that the rare and endangered turtle was saved from trading by SDC, Tousem Sub-division Kaomei from a local fisherman from Tousem village on the April 26 and was reported to Rain forest Tamenglong. He narrated that the rare and endangered turtle was then rehabilitated in Tamenglong under the guidance of Rain forest club Tamenglong member Peiningjuanliu Kamei for further identification of the turtle.
The turtle also received observations and studies by Rain Forest Club Tamenglong member and The Corbett Foundation Mordecai Panmei, for any possible injuries during its captivity.
The main contributors during the identification of the turtle were Manoj Gogoi, a wildlife rehabilitator from The Corbett Foundation (TCF) and Precious Kamei.
Once the turtle was researched and fit for releasing, four members from Rainforest Club Tamenglong took the turtle to the Biodiversity Heritage site, Dailong under the acknowledgement of Honorary Wildlife warden of Tamenglong Dr. Chambo Gonmei. The turtle was released into the wild with a good and stable health condition, he informed.
