Ukhrul: In a move to preserve the diminishing population of the state bird- Mrs Hume’s Pheasant, also known as Nongin, residents of Jessami village in Manipur’s Ukhrul district set up a community reserve, creating a safe haven for the endangered species.
The Nongin Reserve Community is the only Reserve in the world where Nongin can roost and breed in the care and protection of the village community.
Mrs Hume’s Pheasant Reserve area was inaugurated on Tuesday (January 23) by Dhritiman Mukherjee, an acclaimed Nature, Wildlife and Conservation Photographer Ambassador, Roundglass Sustain and Sony India in the presence of the Jessami Village Council who are behind the success of this momentous initiative.
Home to the Chakeshang tribe and state bird Nongin, the picturesque Jessami village is located in the extreme north of Ukhrul district in Manipur and situated approximately 116 km north of Ukhrul town and 121 km east of Kohima in Nagaland near the Myanmar border.
Known as Chara in Jessami Chakhesang local dialect, Hume’s Pheasant (Nongin) was captured on lens for the second time in Manipur at Jessami village and the third time in India on 2022.
The same year, the Nongin reserve was created under the care of the Jessami Village Council with a primary objective to safeguard the rapidly decline population of the indigenous and exquisite Mrs Hume’s pheasant, while simultaneously nurturing its natural habitat.
Applauding the noble initiative taken by the Jessami villagers in safeguarding the bird, Dhritiman Mukherjee said that they came not to teach but to learn from the community who has the knowledge and means to conserve the bird that are on the verge of extinction.
He also made a special mention of Dr Weyepe N Mekrisuh, a native of the village and the architect of the Reserve for recognising the need to conserve the rare species and care for the environment at the same time.
According to Dr Mekrisuh, the community is identifying some bright spots in the village to bank on the available resources and bring conscious tourism for economic sustainability for the village. Some of these bright spots included battlefield tourism, eco-tourism, wildlife tourism, cultural tourism, agro-tourism, etc. He also mentioned the importance of collective effort of the community to make it into reality.
Appreciating the conservation initiative, P Duna Duo, SDO Chingai and ADM in-charge Jessami said it is a historic moment for the people of Jessami village. “This exemplary step taken today by your village is a wakeup call for other villages to join the green and eco-friendly mission,” stated SDO Duo on the effort of Village Council headed by its chairman Nizote Mekrisuh.
Meanwhile, Dr Umesh Srinivasan, an ornithologist (bird scientist) and an Assistant Professor of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore said, “This is a wonderful initiative and a great template where other people can learn from and emulate by communities where these rare, threatened birds are found.”
“This is truly a great example of how indigenous knowledge and indigenous traditions coming together to create conservation initiative that is very unique,” the Scientist applauded.
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However, the biggest contribution to this accomplishment are the hunters-turned-spotters who are now fully immersed in spotting the birds, not to kill but to identify them in order to protect and conserve for future generation.
Years of hunting and killing and observing the birds in close proximity in its natural habitat has equipped the hunters with the knowledge and insights into the behaviours, food habits and roosting place of the Nongin that preferred to stay out of sight. Currently, six former hunters are engaged as spotters for the Nongin Reserve.
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