Manipur Village Bans Animal Hunting For 3 Years. CM Biren Singh Says 'Remarkable Step'

For the first time, a village in Manipur has voluntarily banned animal hunting to promote conservation and biodiversity. Their initiative has earned them praise from CM Biren Singh.

For the first time, a village in Manipur has voluntarily banned animal hunting to promote conservation and biodiversity. Their initiative has earned them praise from CM Biren Singh.

Source : Special Arrangement

Guwahati: In a bid to promote conservation and biodiversity, the picturesque and remote village of Shirui in the Ukhrul district of Manipur has voluntarily imposed a ban of three years on the hunting of animals and birds -- for the first time. The initiative taken by the villagers has earned praise from Chief Minister N Biren Singh who called it a "Remarkable step towards the conservation of biodiversity."  

Besides banning the killing of animals and birds, the villagers have also prohibited the use of air guns and firearms within the jurisdiction of the village. The villagers have also urged the Ukhrul district forest department to provide them with a drone to monitor hunting attempts regularly.   

The Shirui village, located around 93 kilometres from the state capital Imphal, is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the princely state. The village is famous for a rare Indian species of plant, the Shirui lily, which is only found in the upper reaches of the Shirui hill ranges in the district.

Lauding the efforts of the villagers of Shirui in promoting conservation and biodiversity, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh in a post on X said, “For the first time in Manipur, the people of Shirui village have decided to completely ban the hunting and killing of animals and birds within their jurisdiction. It is a remarkable step towards the conservation of biodiversity and the protection of our precious wildlife.”

“I express my heartfelt appreciation for the outstanding initiative taken by the people of Shirui village. Such actions set an example for the entire state of Manipur and beyond,” Chief Minister Singh added.

In October this year, Manipur's Tamenglong and Noney district administrations had ordered a ban on hunting, catching, killing and selling of the longest-flying migratory bird Amur falcon, during their visit to the state in mid-October and November. The respective district administrations had also banned air guns during the roosting period of the raptors.