Community momentum grows: Sangtam Naga community bans pangolin hunting in Nagaland
12th February 2026: In a significant step forward for pangolin conservation in Northeast India, the United Sangtam Likhum Pumji (USLP), the apex tribal body of the Sangtam Naga community, has officially passed a resolution to protect pangolins within its jurisdiction. This milestone marks another major achievement under the ongoing Countering Pangolin Trafficking Project led by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), supported by the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Pangolin Crisis Fund.
The resolution reflects the growing strength of community-led conservation efforts and signals an expanding wave of grassroots support for pangolin protection across state boundaries.
In 2023, WTI initiated a project in Manipur to counter the alarming illegal wildlife trade (IWT) threatening the survival of the Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) and the Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla). The project was later expanded to Nagaland in the region, particularly along the Indo-Myanmar border, which has been identified as a critical landscape for pangolin trafficking.
Through capacity strengthening of enforcement officials and, most importantly, sustained community engagement, WTI has worked to address both supply and demand drivers of the illegal trade. A key pillar of the project has been fostering dialogue with indigenous tribal institutions — recognising that lasting conservation success in Northeast India depends on community ownership and leadership.
The recent resolution by USLP builds upon the earlier landmark conservation resolution passed by the Tangkhul Naga Awunga Long (TNAL) in Manipur, demonstrating that the project’s efforts are now successfully extending into Nagaland.
The Sangtam Naga indigenous community is primarily distributed across the districts of Kiphire and Tuensang in Nagaland, inhabiting ecologically rich hill landscapes characterised by dense forests, shifting cultivation areas, and biodiverse habitats that support numerous wildlife species, including pangolins. The region forms part of the Indo-Myanmar biodiversity hotspot, making it both ecologically significant and vulnerable to wildlife exploitation pressures.
Like many Naga indigenous communities, the Sangtam community has a strong and structured traditional governance system. Village councils and apex tribal bodies play an influential role in regulating social practices, resource use, and community decisions. These institutions command deep respect and ensure collective adherence to community resolutions. This governance strength makes the Sangtam community an essential partner in conservation initiatives that require long-term behavioural and social change.
The United Sangtam Likhum Pumji (USLP) serves as the apex decision-making and representative body of the Sangtam tribe. It coordinates among village councils, youth bodies, and other affiliated organisations, ensuring unity and collective progress for the community.
Over recent months, WTI’s field teams remained in constant dialogue with USLP leaders, sharing information about the ecological importance of pangolins, the legal consequences of wildlife trade, and the growing threats posed by organised trafficking networks in the region. Recognising the urgency of conservation and the need to safeguard their forests for future generations, the USLP formally adopted a resolution to protect pangolins within its jurisdiction.
Mr. Chingrisoror Rumthao, Field Officer, WTI, closely engaged with the community, shared that the Sangtam community has shown remarkable leadership and openness in understanding the urgency of pangolin conservation. He added that their support has not only been encouraging but crucial, and that when communities take ownership, conservation becomes sustainable and powerful.
The resolution reflects not only environmental responsibility but also the Sangtam community’s commitment to preserving the integrity of their land and cultural heritage. By passing this resolution, the USLP has demonstrated proactive leadership in wildlife conservation. The decision reinforces the prohibition of pangolin hunting and trade within Sangtam areas and strengthens community accountability mechanisms.
This development marks a turning point, signalling that conservation efforts are no longer confined to enforcement alone, but are being embraced and institutionalised at the community level. The USLP resolution is a testament to the effectiveness of sustained engagement under the WTI’s Pangolin Project. Supported by the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Pangolin Crisis Fund in collaboration with Manipur and Nagaland Forest Departments, the initiative continues to bridge enforcement action with community partnership, building a united front against illegal wildlife trade.
Reflecting on this milestone, Mr. Monesh Singh Tomar, Project Lead, stated that community institutions are the backbone of conservation in Northeast India. He explained that this initiative is not just about countering illegal trade, but also about building trust, strengthening local leadership, and creating a future where pangolins are protected because communities choose to protect them. He added that the growing support from indigenous community apex bodies like the USLP shows that meaningful change is taking root.
With successive community resolutions now emerging across state lines, the momentum for pangolin conservation is steadily expanding. Each dialogue, each partnership, and each community decision strengthens the collective commitment to protecting one of the world’s most trafficked mammals. As more communities come forward in support, the vision of safeguarding pangolins across Northeast India moves closer to reality, driven not only by enforcement but by the unwavering will of the people who call these forests home.
