Dimapur: Nagaland forest, environment and climate change minister CL John said wildlife hunting must stop and be replaced with conservation efforts.Addressing a Wildlife Week programme in Mokokchung on Tuesday, John said the Nagas had given up headhunting with the advent of Christianity but continued to hunt wildlife, according to an official report issued on Wednesday.Wildlife Week is observed annually from Oct 2 to 8 to spread awareness about wildlife conservation and protection.“It is our shared responsibility to conserve and protect the wildlife that nature has provided us,” John said.Appreciating the conservation efforts of two villages in Peren district and 141 villages in Mon district, he said village communities had, years ago, reached an understanding not to hunt or kill animals or cut down trees.He said the communities had taken the initiative to protect wildlife and promote afforestation and had since become its protectors and guardians.John appealed to village and church leaders, teachers and the wider community to take the lead in sensitising people about the Wildlife Protection Act in their respective areas.Speaking on the theme of the event, “Connecting Habitats, Thriving Wildlife”, Development Commissioner and Principal Secretary for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kikheto Sema appealed to church leaders to spread awareness about the Wildlife Protection Act.He also called for community participation and urged village councils, elders, students and the public to work together to protect wildlife.
