Hunters surrender 2,200 air guns in Arunachal Pradesh in 1 year

ITANAGAR: In response to the Arunachal Pradesh Government's appeal, over 2,200 air guns and a few rifles were voluntarily surrendered in the past one year by people who vowed not to hunt birds and animals.

After Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh launched a campaign last year in an effort to persuade people to provide protection and sanctuary to the birds and wild animals, although they have been hunted for centuries now.

The announcement of the voluntary surrender was made by the State's Environment and Forests Minister Mama Natung on Saturday.

Natung, Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, and top officials of Environment, Forests and Wildlife Departments have been holding numerous events regularly in the State's far -flung areas to motivate the people to protect the wild species.

"We did not enact a law and force our people. Instead, we created awareness and asked them to surrender their guns and air guns voluntarily. Surrendered guns are a big success of our campaign. The campaign should not be limited to Arunachal Pradesh alone, the entire country should follow this model for a better future," Natung said.

He said that 80 air guns were surrendered on Saturday in presence of Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, his deputy Ashwini Kumar Choubey and Chief Minister Khandu.

Yadav also chaired the 20th Meeting of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in the State's Pakke Tiger Reserve.

Highly appreciating Arunachal Pradesh's efforts, the Union Environment Minister said that within a year of this community and compassion-driven programme, the State witnessed a surrender of over 2,200 air guns.

"I urge all State Governments to take up the 'Air gun Surrender Abiyan'. Arunachal offers a model to emulate with programmes like Hornbill Nest Adoption and Airgun Surrender Abhiyan," Yadav said.

The Union Minister said that rampant use of air guns was a problem in the Northeastern States and Arunachal Pradesh in March last year had started the campaign, which has so far yielded great results.

Forest and wildlife officials said that the State Government has presented certificates to those who have surrendered their air guns and rifles,

"The State Government is considering framing suitable policies to give some support to those people who would be affected after depositing air guns and rifles to the Government," an official said.

He said that the tribal people's lives have long been dependent on wildlife and forests and without realizing the impact of climate change and global warming, they continued to hunt and cut trees.

"Now is the time for us to protect wildlife and stop unabated felling of forest trees, as it has greatly impacted on global warming."

Air guns do not require any license and a huge number of people hunt birds and small animals using them across Arunachal Pradesh, unaware of the biodiversity loss.

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