WTI and WCCB Train Kamjong Officials to Combat Wildlife Crime at Indo-Myanmar Border

Special Correspondent
Ukhrul, September 26:
In a concerted effort to strengthen the fight against illegal wildlife trade, the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), in collaboration with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) and the Kamjong Forest Division of the Manipur Forest Department, organized a one-day capacity-building workshop on wildlife article identification at the Kamjong Divisional Forest Office.
The workshop was formally inaugurated by Napolean Rongmei, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Kamjong, who underscored the urgent need for robust enforcement and inter-agency cooperation in protecting wildlife. He urged participants to intensify vigilance along the Indo-Myanmar border, which has emerged as a major trafficking route for wildlife products.
The training program brought together 20 frontline officials from the Forest Department, Police, and Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB), reflecting a united front in combating wildlife crime. The technical sessions featured a detailed presentation on wildlife article identification by Monesh Tomar, Assistant Manager at WTI, and a live demonstration of seized wildlife articles led by Mr. Robin Borah from WCCB’s Guwahati Sub-Regional Office.
The workshop specifically addressed the challenges of detecting products derived from pangolins and other endangered species, often trafficked across the porous border. It also aimed at equipping enforcement personnel with practical knowledge to identify and seize illegal consignments effectively.
This initiative is part of WTI’s ongoing Countering Pangolin Trafficking Project, supported by the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Pangolin Crisis Fund, which seeks to strengthen enforcement mechanisms while mobilizing community support for pangolin conservation across Manipur and Nagaland.