Itanagar, June 30: Residents of Weshi village in Arunachal Pradesh’s East Kameng district have undertaken a community-driven conservation effort by translocating 52 fingerlings of the endangered Schizothorax pelzami, locally known as Ngarsing in the Nyishi language, to Richaso stream to help protect the species and expand its habitat.
The conservation exercise was carried out 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 in the Bameng administrative circle to collect the ray-finned carp species, commonly known as marinka, before releasing them into Richaso stream, where the fish is not naturally found.
The translocation was led by Head Gaon Bura Gajali Sangno after securing permission from the Talo Welfare Society. The team was assisted throughout the mission by Rani Sono Diyw of Talo village.
A total of 52 Schizothorax pelzami fingerlings were successfully introduced into Richaso stream. Organisers said the initiative was designed to safeguard the endangered species by creating a new habitat in a waterbody where it had not previously existed.
The fingerlings were released into sections of the stream that are inaccessible to mahseer, a larger predatory fish, with the aim of improving their chances of survival and successful breeding.
Following the completion of the conservation 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. He said the proposed restriction would allow the newly established fish population sufficient time to adapt, grow and reproduce without human interference.
