ITANAGAR, Sep 24: A camera-trapping initiative has been launched in New Tupi village of Arunachal Pradesh’s Tirap district to document and monitor wildlife in the village’s community forest, marking a step towards community-led biodiversity conservation in the district.
The initiative has been undertaken by the Hinthong Foundation, a registered non-profit organisation based in Tirap. Its co-founders and conservationists, Chajo Lowang and Sara Khongsai, have been working in the field of biodiversity conservation for the past five years, with a focus on involving local communities in conservation efforts.
Under the initiative, camera traps have been installed at selected locations across the community forest to record wildlife movement and generate scientific information on species inhabiting the area. The technology enables wildlife to be monitored without the need for researchers to be physically present in the forest, thereby minimising disturbance to animals.
The deployment was carried out with the active participation of the New Tupi community. Around 15-20 people, including the village chief, community leaders, youth president, an intern and volunteers of the Hinthong Foundation, participated in the exercise. Techu Aran, former Deputy Commissioner of Tirap and an advisor to the Foundation, also joined the team.
Field observations during the deployment revealed several signs of wildlife, including footprints of wild boar and barking deer and claw marks believed to be of the Himalayan black bear. Sites showing evidence of wild boar feeding were also identified. A pangolin burrow had been spotted at another location in the forest a few days earlier.
Villagers have also reported hearing Hoolock gibbon calls during the early morning hours. Kime Obin, a field biologist associated with Morey Conservation Foundation and resource person for the exercise, also heard Hoolock gibbon calls on the morning preceding the deployment.
Kime guided the team on technical aspects of camera trapping, including identifying suitable locations and setting up the equipment. The camera traps for the initiative have been supported by the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF).
The Foundation said the initiative seeks to combine scientific methods with local knowledge and participation to build a better understanding of Tirap's biodiversity. The information and images collected through the camera traps are expected to provide insights into the wildlife of New Tupi and support future conservation efforts in the district.
The initiative also aims to strengthen community awareness and encourage local stewardship of the forest and its wildlife.