DIMAPUR: In a landmark step for community led conservation, the people of Bamsiakilwa village, Peren district, have officially declared the Daukeling Hebamlo Community Conserved Area (CCA) dedicated to the protection of the elusive Asiatic Golden cat. The initiative is being recognised as the world’s first CCA specifically for this rare and threatened wild cat species.
The declaration ceremony was attended by conservationists, village elders, forest officials and community members, reflecting a collective commitment to safeguard forests and wildlife. Special guest Dr. C. Zupeni Tsanglai, wildlife warden, Dimapur division, inaugurated the event and unveiled a monolith and statue of the Asiatic Golden cat to mark the historic occasion.
Also present were Pauka, chairman of Bamsiakilwa village, Chunggai Pame, chairman of New Ngaulong village, Kereusung, chairman of Old Ngaulong village, and Dr. Giridhar Malla, founder of the Eastern Himalayas Marbled Cat Project (EHMCP), along with project members Atheng, Pelevizo Meyase and Mesasieno Chase.
The initiative was made possible through the collaboration of the Bamsiakilwa (Hebamlo) community, EHMCP, and the Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation (SWCCF). The partnership aims to strengthen long term habitat protection, promote community stewardship and secure a safe future for the Asiatic Golden cat and other wildlife in the forest landscape.
Speaking at the programme, Dr. Tsanglai stressed the urgent need to conserve small wild cats and protect forests that sustain biodiversity and human communities. She highlighted that healthy forests are vital for clean air, freshwater, ecological balance and climate resilience, and that conservation today would directly benefit future generations.
Village chairman Pauka urged villagers to stop hunting and conserve the Asiatic Golden cat and other wildlife within the conserved area. Community leaders and representatives also emphasised the importance of preserving forests for future generations and resolved to enforce strict conservation measures, including a ban on hunting and disturbance to wildlife.
The Asiatic Golden cat, one of Asia’s least studied wild cats, continues to face threats from habitat loss, hunting and human disturbance. Conservationists believe the Daukeling Hebamlo CCA can serve as a model for grassroots conservation by combining traditional community governance with modern conservation practices.
The declaration reflects the growing role of indigenous and local communities in wildlife conservation across Nagaland and Northeast India, standing as a strong example of how community participation and local leadership can contribute meaningfully to biodiversity protection and climate resilience.
