May 26, 2022
From hunters to nest protectors: Why the Nyishi tribe saves hornbills
Increased income from tourism is only one reason that the Nyishis of Arunachal are conserving hornbills; their primary motivation is to save their tribe’s identity.
Tajik Tachang is a resident of Mobuso, Seijosa, in Arunachal Pradesh’s Pakke-Kessang district. He joined the Hornbill Nest Adoption Program in 2013 as a nest protector, and took up the role of a local coordinator from 2017. He has been instrumental in coordinating local logistics and uploading data from the nest protectors on an online portal weekly. He also assists the Nature Education Programme of NCF’s Eastern Himalaya Programme in coordinating with local schools and conducting year-long activities for students, including nature camps inside the Pakke Tiger Reserve.