Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival begins in Arunachal; effective conservation of iconic birds urged

The 9th edition of the Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival (PPHF) commenced in the town of Seijosa in Arunachal Pradesh’s Pakke Kessang district on January 18, 2024, with a call to protect and conserve hornbills.

The festival was inaugurated by Arunachal’s Tourism, CA, TPT, and Land Management Minister Nakap Nalo, a statement by the organising committee said.

Nalo urged a collective effort from all sectors of Arunachal society to safeguard the critically endangered birds.

While the government, particularly the forest department, takes initiatives for a secure forest habitat, the responsibility lies with the common people to contribute to the protection of these species, he added, while highlighting the decline in hornbill numbers and their fragmented distribution.

Seijosa is located near the Pakke Tiger Reserve (PTR), which is home to four species of hornbills: Wreathed, Great Indian, Oriental Pied and the endangered Rufous-necked.

The area is the traditional homeland of the Nyishi people, the largest tribal group in Arunachal Pradesh. The first-ever PPHF was held on January 16-18, 2015. The aim was to recognise the role played by the Nyishi in conserving hornbills in PTR. The Nyishi had formerly hunted hornbills and used their bills to craft traditional headgear. They had later turned hornbill conservationists.

Nyishi Elite Society President Tana Showren, emphasised the deep-rooted connection between conservation and tribal traditions. He advocated for a balanced approach, combining indigenous and scientific methods in conservation practices.

Read more: Arunachal Pradesh’s Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival gears up for its 9th Edition

Showren stressed the need for sustainable development that does not harm ecosystems and called for the active involvement of youth, local leaders, and the public in biodiversity conservation.

Prem Camdir, PPHF secretary, highlighted the pivotal role of the Nyishi in wildlife conservation, emphasising that reliance on the government and forest departments alone is insufficient. The festival, he added, exemplified the community’s commitment to nature conservation.

A cultural presentation on the inaugural day of the PPHF. Photo provided by PPHF organising committee

“Hornbills soar as ambassadors of the skies, reminding us that nature’s beauty is a fragile gift. We must safeguard it with reverence and respect,” local member of the state legislative assembly, Biyuram Wahge, said in his address.

The inaugural function featured a skit on hornbill conservation, millet competition as well as cultural presentations from other communities in the region, including Nepali, Bodo, and Adivasi.

PPHF was declared a ‘state festival’ by then-Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu in 2019. This year’s theme, Domutoh Domutoh, Paga hum Domutoh, translates to ‘Let Our Hornbills Remain’ in Nyishi, emphasising the critical need to preserve the iconic birds.

The three-day festival will end on January 20.