Imphal: A new educational campaign is using interactive games to teach young people about pangolin conservation. Students in Manipur recently took part in an event titled “Play for Pangolin.”
The non-governmental organisation Environmental Frontiers of Gal (ENFOGAL) organised the event with the Zoology Department of Pettigrew College in Ukhrul district.
The initiative is part of a larger project, “Community-Led Conservation of Chinese Pangolin in Manipur,” supported by GreenHub and Royal Enfield.
Instead of standard lectures, the organisers used interactive games and activities to encourage students to take part in wildlife conservation. The event focused on raising awareness about the Chinese pangolin, known locally in the Meitei language as Shaphu or Saphu.
The Chinese pangolin is a scaly mammal facing a severe survival crisis and is listed as Critically Endangered. Poachers hunt pangolins illegally for their scales, which are traded globally for use in traditional medicine and luxury goods.
Pangolins are protected by national and international laws, including the international treaty CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). However, they remain among the most illegally traded animals in the world.
Organisers said protecting pangolins requires cooperation between schools, local communities and conservation groups.
Experts at the event said endangered species can disappear before the public becomes aware of their decline.
Chingrisoror Rumthao, a field officer for the Wildlife Trust of India, warned about the vulnerable state of pangolins and said protecting them requires action, not just scientific knowledge.
The Central Forest Division also appealed to the public to report suspicious activities related to wildlife trafficking.
Officials hope greater community involvement will help protect Manipur’s biodiversity for future generations.