Wildlife Trust of India promotes pangolin protection in Manipur

DIMAPUR — Naamai Zho in Koide, Manipur, is hosting the Cosmos Flower Festival from October 2 to the 5th, celebrating the season when Cosmos flowers are in full bloom.

Organised by the Naami Eco Tourism Society (NETS), a local NGO comprising village youth, the festival is being held on the theme “Cosmos for culture, conservation for future.” The festival aims to weave together local culture and critical environmental awareness with a strong emphasis on biodiversity protection through a core collaboration with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).

An update from the organisers stated that WTI’s participation stemmed from its ongoing project “Countering pangolin trafficking in the Indo-Myanmar border,” which is supported by Wildlife Conservation Network’s (WCN) Pangolin Crisis Fund (PCF) and in partnership with the Manipur Forest Department.

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It stated that WTI is working to dismantle illegal wildlife trade networks, reduce local hunting, strengthen the capacity of enforcement officials and build awareness among communities living along the Indo-Myanmar border through this initiative.

It mentioned that Manipur, home to the critically endangered Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla), has been identified as a key region for targeted conservation. WTI’s presence at the Cosmos Festival included support as well as extensive public outreach and sensitisation efforts, focusing on pangolin protection and biodiversity conservation.

WTI assistant manager and officer-in-charge, Monesh Singh Tomar, who also serves as the functional president of the event, inaugurated the festival and issued a resolution to ban the hunting, consumption and trade of pangolins in the region—a landmark commitment to wildlife conservation at the grassroots.

Highlights of the four-day festival would include traditional performances and sporting events such as volleyball tournament aimed at promoting community pride and environmental stewardship. A cleanliness drive was also conducted to mark Gandhi Jayanti.

It stated that WTI would conduct extensive outreach and sensitisation activities throughout the festival. Their dedicated stall at Naamai Zho provided visitors with information on pangolin conservation and encouraged them to sign a pledge to protect the species and safeguard Manipur’s biodiversity.

Besides, the organisation would screen wildlife documentaries at the local community centre, offering compelling visuals and narratives on India’s diverse and endangered fauna.

Speaking at the event, Tomar said, “The Cosmos Flower Festival is not just a celebration of natural beauty, but a call to action. By weaving conservation into the fabric of cultural events, we are creating a powerful, community-led movement to protect the pangolin and all of Manipur’s biodiversity.”