The Tangkhul Naga Awunga Long (TNAL) – an institution of Tangkhul Chiefs has taken a major step towards community-led wildlife conservation within its jurisdiction in Manipur.
On 29th July 2025, Tennyson Kashung, President of TNAL, rescued and released a Pangolin in a safe habitat.
It is worth mentioning that the Tangkhul Naga Awunga Long in 2024 has adopted a resolution to ban the hunting and consumption of the Pangolin. And again in 2025 a resolution was adopted to ban the hunting and consumption of Hoolock Gibbon and Hornbill.
President of TNAL, Tennyson Kashung informed Rural Post that this resolution has been taken to protect the endangered species. He also informed that a series of awareness and campaigns on wildlife conservation and biodiversity will be taken up in cluster or area wise in 252 villages of Tangkhul. Awareness signboard will be put up along the stretch of road at Shokvao, Kasom Khullen, Shingcha, Alang, Ngahui and Halang.
The pro-active role taken up by TNAL towards community-led conservation in Northeast India has been recognised and acknowledge by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, and has awarded with a certificate of appreciation to Tennyson Kashung in recognition of his remarkable achievements and exceptional contributions to wildlife conservation on 5 October 2024 during Wildlife Week celebration held at Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. The Forest Department of Manipur during the 70th Wildlife Week Celebration 2024 has also presented a certificate of appreciation for his active contribution towards the protection and conservation of wildlife.
The TNAL has appealed to the people of the Tangkhul community to extend their maximum support in their endeavours to conserve wildlife and biodiversity.