Arunachal: East Kameng villagers translocate endangered Schizothorax to boost fish conservation

In a community-led conservation initiative, residents of Weshi village in Arunachal Pradesh's East Kameng district have successfully translocated 52 fingerlings of the endangered Schizothorax pelzami, locally known as Ngarsing in the Nyishi language, to Richaso stream in a bid to protect and expand the species' habitat.
 

The conservation mission was undertaken on Sunday, June 29, by nine members of the Sangno clan from Weshi village under the Pakoti administrative circle. The team travelled to Lapabung stream near Talo village under the Bameng administrative circle to collect the ray-finned carp species, commonly known as marinka, for release into Richaso stream, where the species is not naturally found.
 

The translocation was carried out under the leadership of Head Gaon Bura Gajali Sangno after obtaining permission from the Talo Welfare Society. Rani Sono Diyw of Talo village guided the team throughout the mission.
 

A total of 52 Schizothorax fingerlings were successfully released into Richaso stream. According to the organisers, the initiative was aimed at conserving the endangered species by establishing a new habitat in a stream where the fish had not previously existed.
 

The fingerlings were released in sections of Richaso stream that are inaccessible to mahseer, a larger predatory fish, to improve their chances of survival and breeding.
 

Following the successful completion of the mission, Head Gaon Bura Gajali Sangno appealed to the executive members of the Weshi Welfare Society to impose a complete ban on fishing in Richaso stream for the next five years. The proposed prohibition is intended to provide the newly introduced fish population with adequate time to establish itself without human disturbance.