Church campaign unarms seasoned hunter

Aizawl, Aug 14 (UNI) A seasoned bird shooter of Sangau II village in southernmost parts of Mizoram travelled all the way from his village to surrender his beloved air rifle to the state Principal Conservator of Forest (PCF) here.

By surrendering his gun with which he had killed thousands of birds, H C Lalrodinliana yesterday made a solemn pledge to never kill birds again.

According to the Aizawl-based Association for Environment Preservation, the hunter made the welcoming decision following the local church's enthusiastic campaign on environmental preservation.

''Apart from the church's campaign, myself and rural bank manager C Lalduhkima also gave him a number of counselling,'' ASEP Campaign Secretary H Lalhmunsiama told UNI here.

At his own expense, the hunter travelled from his village to surrender the gun to the PCF.

PCF C Ramhluna appreciated the act and urged all other hunters to follow Lalrodinliana's example.

The hunter said his Chinese-made air rifle could be retailed for at least Rs 6,000 but he could not do that because the gun would continue to kill birds.

Following the joint efforts of the state forest departments and the state's largest NGO, Young Mizo Association and other environment groups such as ASEP, Mizo tribals have gradually awakened to the need to preserve the state's rich flora and fauna.

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