31^st October 2026, Meluri: The Meluri Town FC football club wins the second edition of the Pangolin Cup 2026. The runners up were the Knight Riders Club from the neighbouring Phek District of Nagaland. The six-day tournament saw eight local team fight out for the coveted Pangolin Cup 2026 trophy. The winner’s trophy also accompanied a cash prize of INR 1,00,000 along with medals and certificates for all players.

The Pangolin Cup was initiated in 2025 in Senapati, Manipur, under its Countering Pangolin Trafficking in Indo-Myanmar Border Project. In this second edition, the tournament was hosted by the Meluri Range Sports Association (MSRA), and with the support of the Nagaland Forest Department, the Pangolin Crisis Fund and the Serenity Trust.

Teams durimg the kickoff of Pangolin Cup, 2026 | © Madhumay Mallik/WTI

Mr. Tokaho Kinimi, IFS, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Phek, Nagaland, said that “Meluri is a blessed village and is fortunate to share its habitat with the pangolin, a threatened species that plays an important role in maintaining ecological balance. Pangolins are defenceless creatures, unable to fight for their own survival, and the growing impact of illegal wildlife trade has drastically reduced their numbers. It is therefore our responsibility to protect them. I sincerely appreciate WTI for its proactive approach in reaching out to the Forest Department. This conservation mission, driven by WTI in collaboration with MRSA, is a commendable initiative. Protecting the pangolin is a shared responsibility, and I urge everyone to extend their support to this cause”.

Highlighting the importance of the role of communities in the conservation of critical species like the Chinese Pangolin, Mr. Makezho, Executive Chairman, Yimkhiung Tribal Council (YTC) said that “The Yimkhiung tribe has shared a close relationship with pangolins since the time of our forefathers. Our traditional beliefs and practices reflect this deep cultural connection. For instance, during years when the harvest of rock bee honey was poor, our ancestors would draw inspiration from the distinctive overlapping patterns of the pangolin’s scales, incorporating them into traditional prayers and beliefs for the return of the bees”.

Traditions and customary rituals remind us of the deep connections between our culture, beliefs and wildlife, passed down through generations and is especially true to communities in the landscape of North-East India. Taking this opportunity, Mr Makezho appealed to the entire Naga community to come together and take collective responsibility for conserving pangolins and other wildlife.

Representatives of the Jessami Village Student Union during the final day of Pangolin Cup, 2026 | © Madhumay Mallik/WTI

On the side-lines of the Pangloin Cup, the WTI team also engaged with students from local schools though drawing competitions, lectures and interactive workshops. The team reached out about 620 students from St. Xaviers School and Christian Higher Secondary School. Ms. Saymanti B, Manager, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), said that “Since our conservation journey began in Manipur in 2023, we have witnessed the power of community trust and collective action. The Tangkhul Naga community, along with 242 villages, took a remarkable step by adopting resolutions to protect pangolins and introducing fines for offences against them. This commitment further extended to the protection of hornbills and gibbons, with more communities joining the movement.

I extend WTI’s heartfelt gratitude to the Pochury HOHO for its resolution and commitment towards pangolin conservation. These community-led initiatives reflect a strong sense of collective ownership and responsibility towards protecting our wildlife”.

“Over the past six days, the Meluri Local Ground witnessed immense support for the playing teams and had been an incredible platform to spread the awareness about the species. More than 1000 locals have been present across the tournament and cheer for the cause. We hope that this effort and the love for football translated into impactful conservation action by the community” said Mr. Monesh Singh Tomar, the project lead from WTI.

Meluri Town FC team with their trophy and a pleage to protect the pangolin | © Madhumay Mallik/WTI

The closing day also included special performances by local artists including The Jessami Village, Ms Lingling, Ms Lepenlo Thurrr and Mr Litsuku Lohe. “The Pangolin Cup has been more than a football tournament but an opportunity to raise awareness about wildlife conservation, particularly the protection of pangolins, which face serious threats from illegal hunting and trafficking. As players, the belief is football teaches discipline, leadership, teamwork and respect and we will expand the same towards protecting species like the pangolin, said the winning team’s captain, Mr. Atsiatho Nyuthe, representing all the players.

WTI’s Countering Pangolin Trafficking Project across the Indo-Myanmar Border aims to strengthen wildlife crime enforcement and improve collaboration local communities through sensitisation and public engagement activities like the Pangolin Cup. The team has been working with various ethnic groups in the landscape and simultaneously helping build capacity of enforcement officials.