As part of Wildlife Week 2025 celebrations, the Kohima Forest Division organised a nature walk and awareness programme for Class X students of St Peter’s School, Kohima, on October 7.
The nature walk, held at the Blyth’s Tragopan Conservation and Breeding Centre in Kohima, aimed to introduce students to the state’s rich biodiversity. Biologist Kanili Rhakho briefed participants on the Blyth’s Tragopan, a rare bird species found in several districts across Nagaland. She said Nagaland holds the largest population of the species globally and highlighted the conservation efforts being carried out at the breeding centre. The event was organised by the Nagaland Forest Management Project in collaboration with the Forest and Biodiversity Management in the Himalayas Project under the Kohima Forest Division.
An awareness session followed at the Forest Office Complex, where Conservator of Forests (STC) Zuthunglo Patton, IFS, delivered the keynote address. Speaking on the theme “Human–Animal Coexistence”, Patton said that people and wildlife are part of the same ecosystem and urged students to learn from the practices of their ancestors, who respected forests and took only what they needed for survival.
Patton noted that Nagaland, located in the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, is home to several rare species whose populations are now vulnerable due to hunting. She emphasised that protecting wildlife habitats safeguards entire ecosystems. Citing the conservation of the Amur Falcon in Nagaland as a success story, she said local communities had transformed from hunters to protectors after awareness programmes supported by the Forest Department.
She also spoke about the Nagaland Zoological Park as part of the state’s ongoing commitment to conservation and encouraged students to visit and share knowledge on protecting biodiversity. Patton called on all participants to strengthen the bond of coexistence and choose preservation over destruction.
Divisional Forest Officer Dr Sevono Seletsu officiated a pledge-taking ceremony, urging participants to commit to wildlife conservation. A total of 38 students and two teachers took part in the event, which concluded with the distribution of diaries published by the Kohima Forest Division.
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