Nyishis no more a threat to hornbills

GUWAHATI: Wildlife experts will heave a sigh of relief with the endangered hornbills no longer under threat from the Nyishi tribesmen of Arunachal Pradesh.
The Nyishis use the hornbill beaks in their headgear and kill the birds for it. But now artificial hornbill beaks made of fibreglass have caught the fancy of the tribals.
This will go a long way in protecting the birds listed under Scheduled I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
In 2001, the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) launched a campaign among the Nyishis to popularize artificial beaks and arrest the decline in the population of these birds. Even Nyishi chiefs ensured that no hornbills were killed, imposing a fine of Rs 5,000 for snaring the bird.
The Nyishis have also accepted the artificial beaks for its easy availability and cost effectiveness. Some tribals have also started making artificial hornbill beaks.
"The aim was to stop the killing of hornbills and replace the beaks with artificial look-alikes. Initially, we used to get the artificial beaks from New Delhi. Now they are being locally manufactured in Arunachal Pradesh and have been widely accepted among the Nyishi tribe," WTI assistant programme officer Sheren Shrestha said.
"The WTI developed artificial hornbill beaks using fiberglass in collaboration with Arunachal forest department, a local NGO and New Delhi-based National Museum of Natural History. This has been widely accepted by local people.
The project was supported by the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation," Shrestha said.
A wooden beak costs Rs 150, while a fiberglass one is priced at one-third of that of wood.
"The aim was to stop the killing of hornbills and replace the beaks with artificial look-alikes," Shrestha said.
The level of acceptance of artificial beaks among the Nyishis was exhibited by a MP from Arunachal Pradesh, who attended the 15th Lok Sabha in a traditional headgear adorned with an artificial hornbill beak.
Hornbill head-gear is compulsory for Nyishi men. It is a sign of tribal identity and manhood.
Four species of hornbills, the Great Indian hornbill, Oriental pied hornbill, Rufous necked hornbill and the Wreathed hornbill, were killed for making the headgear.
Rampant killing of these birds have drastically reduced the hornbill population.
Now only Pakke wildlife sanctuary in East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh is believed to be the last home for these birds in the state.