𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗖. 𝗟. 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗧𝗼𝗸𝗵ü 𝗘𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 Kohima, 25th Oct 2024: From 4th to 7th November 2024, birdwatchers will come together in Nagaland to celebrate the Tokhü Emong Bird Count (TEBC) by going out and watching birds with students, teachers, and community members. Launching the event in Kohima today, Nagaland Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, C. L. John said, “I’m delighted to launch the Tokhü Emong Bird Count 2024, a four-day celebration of Nagaland’s rich avifaunal diversity from November 4-7. This initiative encourages people to record and document the birds of Nagaland. Your participation supports conservation efforts, community engagement, and documents our State’s natural heritage.” TEBC 2024 is being organised by the Wokha Forest Division, Doyang Plantation Division, and the Divisional Management Unit, Nagaland Forest Management Project, Wokha district. TEBC 2024 is in collaboration with the Wildlife Division, Dimapur, Wildlife Division, Kiphire, and Northeast Birding Tours. Partners joining the TEBC 2024 are Foundation for Ecological Security (FES), Eco Warriors Nagaland, Nagaland Community Conserved Areas Forum, Nagaland Tourism Association, Nagaland Association of Tour Operators, Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary, Photography Club Dimapur, and We The Nagas. The Department of School Education Nagaland and University of California Santa Cruz from the USA are Education Partners for TEBC 2024. Pentax Binoculars is the Equipment Partner. The event is powered by eBird India. This collaboration which includes the Government of Nagaland, non-governmental conservation organisations, and educational institutions reiterates the significance of Naga community knowledge and their participation in caring for biodiversity. Recognising Naga people’s cultural practices like post-harvest festivals and their language is integral to envision, promote, and preserve a sustainable future. “The Tokhü Emong Bird Count–the first bird documentation event for Nagaland, is a vital initiative for Nagaland’s community participation in conservation efforts. I encourage the citizens of the State to actively participate in the event and help document the birds you see. Your contributions through the eBird app will significantly enhance our understanding of bird populations, informing effective conservation strategies and promoting environmental stewardship.” – 𝗗𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗵, 𝗜𝗙𝗦 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 & 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲, 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲, 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱. Last year, birdwatchers documented 219 species in 327 checklists across the state. Through the Directorate of School Education, 14 government schools took part in their respective districts. In addition, students from six private schools also ventured into bird counting. People spotted the Naga Wren-Babbler, Olive-backed Pipit, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Blyth’s Tragopan, Blue Rock-Thrush, Eurasian Kestrel, Plumbeous Redstart, and Dark-rumped Swift, among many others. Like the previous year, TEBC aims to cover all districts of Nagaland in 2024 and increase the number of avian species during this harvest season. “I wish the organisers and participants the very best. I encourage people to go out and observe the birds during the four-day event, while also helping in creating a database for birds across Nagaland.” – 𝗩𝗲𝗱𝗽𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗵, 𝗜𝗙𝗦 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻, 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲, 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱. TEBC takes its inspiration from Tokhü Emong, the harvest festival of the Lotha Naga community from Nagaland. In the Lotha language, Tokhü refers to feasting and Emong means rest/halt on an appointed period. Observed in the first week of November, this festival is about celebration, fellowship, and reconciliation. Sharing the abundance of harvest and hard work, Tokhü Emong is a time to practise gratitude, remember departed loved ones, and invite neighbours and families for food and drink. It is a period when friends and visitors are invited to celebrate the bountiful harvest and showered with hospitality and food. Embracing the spirit of sharing, oneness, and fellowship, the TEBC organisers invite everyone to join and celebrate Nagaland’s bird diversity. “I am thrilled to continue my collaboration with TEBC 2024. The festival invites us to adopt birds to reflect on Indigenous culture, agriculture, and what it means to be in a relationship of care with other beings and the land. I believe TEBC allows us to connect and come up with bottom-up approaches that centre Indigenous community engagement and participation.” – 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳. 𝗗𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗞𝗶𝗸𝗼𝗻, 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿, 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗮, 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗖𝗿𝘂𝘇. “With each passing year, the Tokhu Emong Bird Count reveals more of Nagaland’s vibrant avian diversity and strengthens our commitment to conservation. The 2024 edition is not just a bird count; it is a celebration of our natural heritage and an opportunity to unite communities in protecting these incredible species for generations to come.” – 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗪 𝗠 𝗦𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿, 𝗜𝗙𝗦, 𝗗𝗙𝗢 𝗪𝗼𝗸𝗵𝗮 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱. Anyone present in Nagaland from 4-7 November can participate in TEBC 2024. The basic activity is to watch and count birds on any/all days from 4-7 November from anywhere in Nagaland, for at least 15 minutes, and upload bird lists to the bird recording platform eBird (. Besides documenting birds, there will be birdwalks and online/in-person talks about birds for interested public, other birders, and school/college students. Celebrate the Naga community’s engagement and contribution to care and promote birdlife of Nagaland! 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀: * Lesemew M (Eco Warriors Nagaland). Email: lesemewyim195@gmail.com ; WhatsApp: +91-8415964715 * Chenibemo Odyuo (Foundation for Ecological Security). Email: cheodyuo@gmail.com; WhatsApp: +91-7983632179 * Joel Rodrigues (PhD student, Stockholm University). Email: joel.rodrigues@socant.su.se; WhatsApp: +91-9620675183 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼: Tokhü Emong Bird Count 2024 campaign launched at Kohima by C. L. John, Hon’ble Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of Nagaland, in presence of Dharmendra Prakash, IFS, PCCF & HoFF, Department of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of Nagaland, and Temjen Jamir, IFS, CCF, Department of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of Nagaland. Along with Grace Kikon, RFO, Wokha Forest Division, and Lansothung Lotha. . . . 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Naga ancestral human remains continue to be collector’s item in the 21st century! Stop this auction. @CmoNagaland @BBCNews @UKinIndia @TribalAffairsIn LOT 64 - A 19TH CENTURY HORNED NAGA HUMAN SKULL NAGA TRIBEThis piece would be of particular interest to c