Ukhrul, Manipur, 5th June 2025 — In a landmark decision marking World Environment Day 2025, under the leadership of Mr. Kashung Tennyson, President of the Tangkhul Naga Awunga Long (TNAL), the TNAL Assembly has passed a historic resolution to ban the hunting, poaching, killing, trade and harming of Hoolock gibbons and hornbills across the entire TNAL jurisdiction, which covers 252 villages in six districts of Manipur. This bold move comes as a continued demonstration of the Tangkhul community’s growing commitment to wildlife conservation—one rooted in indigenous leadership and supported by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).

The resolution enforces a strict and immediate prohibition on hunting, poaching, killing, or harming these ecologically vital species, and introduces community service penalties for violations. All community members and visitors are urged to cooperate fully, with the resolution calling for festivals and traditions to be celebrated in harmony with nature, reinforcing the bond between culture and conservation. This resolution builds upon TNAL’s earlier landmark ban on pangolin hunting in 2024 and reflects a profound shift in community values: from tradition to transformation, with local custodians emerging as champions of endangered wildlife.

“This is not just a ban, it is a pledge to protect our natural heritage,” said Mr. Kashung Tennyson. “The call of the gibbon and the flight of the hornbill must remain a part of our forests, not our memories.”

Mr. Kashung Tennyson, President of the Tangkhul Naga Awunga Long (TNAL), has played a pivotal role in sensitising his community towards conservation efforts | Photo by Team WTI

WTI, through its Pangolin Conservation Project, supported by Wildlife Conservation Network’s Pangolin Crisis Fund, has been working closely with communities in Manipur to combat illegal wildlife trade and strengthen local conservation ethics. The impact has extended far beyond pangolins, catalysing a growing wave of environmental stewardship across the landscape.

“This resolution reflects a deep-rooted cultural change. We are proud to see our work with pangolins inspiring broader community action,” said Jose Louies, CEO, WTI. “When indigenous leadership aligns with conservation science, real change happens.”

As part of this renewed effort, TNAL and WTI will collaboratively install sensitisation signages across villages to raise awareness about the ecological importance and legal protection of hoolock gibbons and hornbills, two of Northeast India’s most iconic and threatened species. 

This World Environment Day, Mr. Kashung Tennyson has sent a clear message: ‘wildlife conservation starts at home, and every voice in the community matters’. With continued collaboration, TNAL and WTI are laying the foundation for a future where forests are not just protected, but proudly defended by the people who know them best.