As Nagaland gears up to celebrate the much acclaimed annual Hornbill Festival starting December 1, a dead hornbill bird was spotted in the market, being sold near Old MLA Junction for Rs 700 in Kohima on Friday evening in spite the ban on hunting in the state.
It may be noted that the “Festival of Festivals” (Hornbill Festival) was named after the endangered majestic Hornbill admired and revered by all Nagas.
The vendor who was selling the bird at Rs. 700 said that the dead hornbill was bought from Jalukie area while other items like jungle fowls were also being sold at the cost of Rs 650.
While not denying that hunting of such endangered species were banned, the vendor said that the hunters were doing so to earn a livelihood as there were no other means to make their ends meet.
The vendor disclosed that these items were brought to Kohima through public transport. After the items are sold, the vendor gets compensated with a commission.
Interestingly, the vendor also revealed that three other wild animals were sold for Rs. 1200 and a hornbill was sold for Rs.600 after much negotiation.
Meanwhile, according to the website http://www.nagaforest.nic.in/hornbill.html, Mount Kist forest under Jalukie Forest Division is well known for migration of different types of hornbills, especially the great pied hornbill and Rufous necked hornbill.