UKHRUL: A rare state bird, the Nongin or Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant, was captured on camera traps at Shirui hill in Samphungrei village, Ukhrul district. This is a significant development for wildlife conservation in Manipur.
The images were recorded by ENFOGAL, a local environmental conservation team, during a recent birdwatching session led by Project Director Patrick Shangh along with Dr. Christian Erni. The sighting has sparked renewed optimism for the survival of the species, which continues to face threats from habitat destruction, forest fires, illegal hunting, and lack of awareness.
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According to ENFOGAL, the latest documentation recorded one two female pheasants. Notably, a male had been photographed in the same area the previous year, while this year’s capture of two females suggests a stable presence and possible increase in the population.
Shirui village, located in Ukhrul district, has been actively involved in conservation efforts. The local community has enforced a ban on hunting with guns over the past four years. It is a move that has proven instrumental in protecting the species.
Shangh credited this community-led initiative as a key factor behind the recent sightings.
Further strengthening conservation measures, the Manipur Forest Department, in collaboration with local villagers, initiated the establishment of a breeding centre for the Nongin in 2018 within the Shirui forest area. The centre is expected to be completed by 2026 and aims to safeguard both the bird and its fragile habitat.
Shirui, already renowned for the iconic Shirui Lily, is also recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) due to its rich avian diversity. The region is home to several notable species, including the Blyth’s tragopan, Grey-sided thrush, Black-naped niltava, Yellow-bellied fairy-fantail, and Chinese francolin.
With the Shirui Lily already drawing large numbers of tourists annually, conservationists believe the area’s thriving birdlife could position it as a global birdwatching destination.
Shangh emphasized that protecting the Nongin must remain a priority, calling for increased awareness, stronger community participation, and stricter monitoring of hunting activities, particularly from neighboring areas, to ensure the long-term survival of Manipur’s state bird.