Nagaland hosts Pangolin Cup to promote wildlife conservation

The second edition of the Pangolin Cup football tournament commenced on October 26 at the Meluri local ground in Nagaland. The six-day event features eight local teams and aims to raise awareness regarding pangolin conservation and the illegal wildlife trade.

Organized by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) in collaboration with the Meluri Range Sports Association (MRSA) and the Nagaland Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the tournament is part of the ‘Countering Pangolin Trafficking’ project. This initiative targets illegal trade in Manipur and Nagaland through community engagement.

Wildlife warden Sheichutho Katiry emphasized the importance of reconnecting younger generations with traditional conservation values, noting that ancestral beliefs once protected pangolins from hunting. Additionally, the Pochury Hoho reported that over 30 Pochury villages have adopted resolutions prohibiting pangolin hunting, with fines of Rs 50,000 for offenders.