MELURI/UKHRUL: The second edition of the Pangolin Cup kicked off at Meluri local ground in Nagaland on October 26, bringing together eight local football teams to promote pangolin conservation and raise awareness about illegal wildlife trade.
The six-day tournament, scheduled to run until October 31, is organised by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), in collaboration with the Meluri Range Sports Association (MRSA) and the Nagaland Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Supported by the Pangolin Crisis Fund under the Wildlife Conservation Network and the Serenity Trust, the tournament uses football to engage local youth and communities in efforts to protect pangolins, among the most heavily trafficked mammals in the world.
The opening match was played between Royals FC and Knight Riders. The inaugural programme featured a traditional performance by the Meluri Area Public Organisations (MAPO), addresses by dignitaries and conservation representatives, and the felicitation of community leaders for their contributions to wildlife protection.
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Sheichutho Katiry, wildlife warden of Kiphire, stressed the importance of reviving traditional conservation values among younger generations, noting that pangolins were traditionally left undisturbed due to ancestral beliefs.
He said the growing influence of illegal wildlife trade had altered this relationship and placed the species under increasing threat. He called for renewed community commitment to conservation, describing the tournament as an opportunity to unite people around the protection of pangolins and their natural heritage.
Highlighting community-led conservation measures, the Pochury Hoho said more than 30 Pochury villages had adopted resolutions prohibiting pangolin hunting, with a fine of Rs 50,000 for offenders involved in hunting or illegal wildlife trade.
The organisation said the initiative reflected a collective commitment to protecting wildlife, culture and traditional values, adding that the Pangolin Cup would reinforce the message that conservation was a shared responsibility.
Sunil Kyarong, joint director of WTI, said pangolins played an important ecological role and formed part of the region’s natural heritage.
He noted that WTI had worked with communities across Northeast India for 25 years, drawing lessons from conservation initiatives such as the protection of Amur falcons in Nagaland.
Kyarong said combining community awareness, locally driven conservation measures and efforts to combat illegal wildlife trade was essential to securing the future of pangolins.
The Pangolin Cup is part of WTI’s Countering Pangolin Trafficking project, which focuses on addressing the illegal trade of pangolins in Manipur and Nagaland.
Pangolins face serious threats from illegal hunting and trafficking, driven largely by demand for their scales and meat. The tournament seeks to strengthen community participation in wildlife protection by connecting conservation awareness with local sporting and cultural activities.
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