Villagers in Nagaland release fawn back to where it belonged

'Before the release of the fawn, we invoked for abundance of deer in our land'

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Aug. 23 (EMN): Amid the dwindling wildlife population across the world, including Nagaland due to hunting for consumption and trade, the people of Thuvopisu village in Phek district took a step towards conserving wild animals by releasing a rescued fawn back to where it belonged.

Thuvopisu villagers rescued a baby deer on Saturday and released it to the community reserved forest Laka on the same day.

The chairman of Thuvopisu Village Council, Vekuyi Dozo, told Eastern Mirror that the fawn weighed about 4 kg.

The villagers found the baby deer when they went to clear the forest for ‘cultivation purpose’ and its mother was also spotted but escaped, Dozo said, adding that the fawn was rescued and released in the nearby reserved forest.

‘Before the release of the fawn, we invoked for abundance of deer in our land,’ said the chairman.

He informed that the village had imposed a ban in hunting its jurisdiction in order to preserve wildlife. To ensure that the restriction is effective, the village had collected all the weaponry and kept it in the village council court, he added.

The District Forest Officer (DFO) Phek, Thepfuhusie Lhousa, also confirmed about the release of the fawn when this newspaper contacted.

He lauded the people of Thuvopisu village for the act and said that ‘the whole Naga society must emulate them in preserving and conserving of flora and fauna’.