From our Correspondent

Itanagar, Aug 3: The Hornbill Nest Adoption Programme (HNAP) launched at Seijosa in East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh last year to protect the Hornbills from  extinction, has paid dividend with most of the nests artificially created were found to be occupied by Hornbills.

Out of 29 nests created in the fringe area of Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary in the district, 16 nests were occupied by magnificent avian species, according to a report released by Mysore based Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) during a function organized on the occasion of successful completion of first year of the adoption programme at Seijosa yesterday.

“The four nests were however, damaged during the recent forest fire in the fringe area of the sanctuary,” the report said. The HNAP is an initiative of Ghora Aabhe Society (GAS) a NGO from the district in association with NCF and State’s environment and forest department.

The GAS has appointed local Nyishi youths on monthly honorarium to protect the hornbills from certain extinction. The honoraria were paid to the youths through donations from various organizations, GAS Chairman Takum Nabum informed.

The efforts of the GAS are to plant more Mikai trees in the sanctuary as hornbills prefer to make their nests on this tree, Nabum added. The HNAP is an initiative to protect and conserve the hornbills in their origination sites.

 Presently Seijosa is the paradise for four endangered species of hornbills – Great Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbil, Oriental Pied Hornbill and the Rufous-necked hornbill – because of the successful implementation of the adoption programme.