Kolasib, Mizoram, 30 January 2026: Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) organised a two-day capacity-strengthening workshop on the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, at Kolasib on 29–30 January 2026. Conducted in collaboration with the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of Mizoram, the Kolasib Forest Division, and the Kolasib Police Department, with vital support from the Serenity Trust, the program marked the first-ever joint training involving Forest and Police personnel.

The inaugural session was led by Shri. Lalrinpuia Varte, Superintendent of Police (SP), Kolasib, and Shri. Aniket Naik Gaonkar, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Kolasib Forest Division. In their addresses, the Chief Guests emphasised that in a landscape as sensitive as Kolasib, inter-departmental coordination is no longer optional but the cornerstone of effective wildlife protection.

Participants in the Joint Wildlife Law Training in Kolasib, Mizoram

Mizoram, nestled within the Indo-Myanmar biodiversity hotspot, stands as one of India’s most ecologically sensitive yet vulnerable states. Its proximity to porous international borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh has increasingly positioned it as a critical corridor for organised Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT). The scale of this challenge is underscored by recent data. “Between June 2020 and August 2025, Mizoram’s Wildlife Division seized an alarming 1,103 exotic (Scheduled specimens as per India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 2022 animals, highlighting the state’s role as a major transit hub for global trafficking syndicates. Within this complex landscape, Kolasib district serves as the northern gateway and a primary choke point on National Highway 54, connecting the state’s borders to the rest of mainland India. Given its strategic importance, Kolasib is a focal point for evolving enforcement strategies,” recounted Mr. Monesh Singh Tomar, the project lead for WTI.

The workshop marked the first formal capacity-building programme for the Kolasib Forest Division, focusing on the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022. It has been more than two years since these landmark changes were enacted, and this training provided a vital opportunity for frontline officials to align their field operations with the updated legal provisions. “Such interventions are essential to stay ahead of the sophisticated nature of organised illegal trade and to ensure that officials are equipped to effectively curb the flow of contraband through the region. Furthermore, the unique community structure of Mizoram, where local governance and traditional practices often intersect with formal law, requires a nuanced enforcement approach that balances legal rigidity with ground-level sensitivity”, added Mr. Tomar.

Ms. Pradipty Bharadwaj from Langland Conservation interacting with participants during the workshop

The technical core of the workshop was delivered through focused sessions designed to bridge the gap between field investigation and successful prosecution. Ms Pradipty Bharadwaj, from Langland Conservation, served as the Lead Trainer, providing a deep dive into the amended provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and the essential due process of law. Her sessions also covered the international regulatory framework of CITES, particularly relevant given the high volume of transiting exotic species, and the rigorous standards required for documenting wildlife crime cases. Mr.  Monesh Tomar, Assistant Manager at WTI, led modules on contemporary IWT trends and wildlife forensics. His sessions provided practical, hands-on insights into crime scene investigation, ensuring that evidence is handled with the precision necessary to secure convictions against organised criminal networks.

The workshop was meticulously arranged and managed by Mr Jonathan, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), Kolasib, whose coordination was instrumental in bringing both agencies onto a unified learning platform. “By fostering a shared understanding of species identification and legal procedures, the program ensures a more resilient enforcement response in this strategic frontier. This initiative reflects a broader commitment to the idea that only through joint, coordinated efforts can organised IWT be dismantled”, explained Ms. Pradipty.

Wildlife Trust of India remains dedicated to assisting enforcement agencies in such sensitive, strategic locations, enhancing their capacity to protect the rich biodiversity of the Northeast against the growing threat of wildlife crime. Its Pan-India Enforcement Assistance Project aims to offer enforcement assistance to agencies in conducting operations and promoting awareness about the consequences of IWT.