Ten hours on a single lane mountain road, dotted with frequent military check-posts and with no place to eat, we reached Pungro. Reaching Fakim is in itself quite an achievement.
Our first destination was Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary- an area of about six square kilometres along the Nagaland-Myanmar border near Mount Saramati. My colleague Nisarg and I were expected to document mammal diversity based on findings from camera traps. Luxuriant forest of Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary
Most members of the small team were present or past students of the post-graduate programme in wildlife based at the National Centre for Biological Sciences in Bangalore. The squad serves as a shining example of how people can change, and how local communities could become the best protectors if they understand that their heritage and culture is threatened.In June 2011, I was a part of an expedition that aimed at identifying locations of priority importance for biodiversity conservation in Nagaland. Their dedication is clear from the fact that apart from the team leader, none of the other members are permanent department staff. Sivachar, IFS, the then Wildlife Warden of the Kiphire Wildlife Division, the Fakim APS has had very positive results.
Their patrols help curb illegal activities, and information gathering on the status of flora and fauna documentation. The Fakim Squad also helps conduct wildlife surveys in the company of field conservation researchers. The squad comprising Alemba Yimchunger, Lathrong Yimchunger, Shuven Yimchunger, Yansemong Yimchunger, Phukumew Yimchunger, Tutsumew Yimchunger, are led by Alemba, who convinced his people to transition from traditional hunting to protection. The Fakim Anti-Poaching Squad (APS) comprises former hunters-turned-forest-protectors who began their fight to protect their precious home in 2018, in the Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary, Kiphire district, Nagaland. Sometimes, to be able to give, you need to know what it feels like to have taken… Forest guardians, community conservationists, and team players
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