Nagaland: Bamsiakilwa Village Declares World’s First Community Conserved Area for Asiatic Golden Cat.

Peren, Nagaland; May 2026: In a landmark step for community-led wildlife conservation, the residents of Bamsiakilwa village in Nagaland’s Peren district have officially declared the Daukeling–Hebamlo Community Conserved Area (CCA) dedicated to protecting the elusive Asiatic Golden cat, one of Asia’s least-studied wild cat species. The initiative is being recognised as the world’s first community conserved area established specifically for the conservation of the rare and threatened feline.

The declaration ceremony was attended by conservationists, village elders, forest officials, and local residents, reflecting a collective commitment towards preserving the forests and wildlife of the region. Wildlife Warden of Dimapur Division Dr. C. Zupeni Tsanglai attended the programme as the special guest and formally inaugurated the conserved area. She also unveiled a monolith and statue of the Asiatic Golden cat erected to commemorate the initiative.

The conservation effort has been jointly spearheaded by the Bamsiakilwa (Hebamlo) community, the Eastern Himalayas Marbled Cat Project (EHMCP), and the Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation (SWCCF). The initiative aims to ensure long-term habitat protection, strengthen community stewardship of forests, and secure a safer future for the Asiatic Golden cat and other wildlife species inhabiting the landscape.

Also present at the programme were Bamsiakilwa Village Chairman Pauka, New Ngaulong Village Chairman Chunggai Pame, Old Ngaulong Village Chairman Kereusung, and EHMCP founder Dr. Giridhar Malla along with project members Atheng, Pelevizo Meyase, and Mesasieno Chase.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Tsanglai highlighted the urgent need to conserve lesser-known wild cat species and protect forests amid increasing climate change and habitat degradation. She stressed that healthy forests play a vital role in maintaining freshwater sources, clean air, ecological balance, and sustainable livelihoods for local communities.

Village leaders also called upon residents to stop hunting and work collectively towards conserving the Asiatic Golden cat and other wildlife species in the area. Community members resolved to enforce strict conservation measures within the reserve, including a ban on hunting and activities that disturb wildlife habitats.

Nagaland is a vital stronghold for the rare and elusive Asiatic Golden Cat (Catopuma temminckii), which ranges across the state’s dense tropical and subtropical forests.

Key Conservation Highlights and Sighting Locations:

• Peren District (Bamsiakilwa Village): The community of Bamsiakilwa village declared the Daukeling-Hebamlo Community Conserved Area (CCA), officially recognized as the world’s first CCA specifically dedicated to the Asiatic Golden Cat. This indigenous-led initiative enforces a strict ban on hunting and habitat disturbance.

• Eastern Nagaland (Noklak District): The species has been successfully photographed and documented in the wild areas near Choklangan village along the Indo-Myanmar border.

• Khelia Community Forest: Camera-trapping studies have revealed incredibly diverse coat patterns here—ranging from classic golden to reddish-brown and buff-brown morphs.

• Dzükou Valley: Researchers have identified the community-owned forests surrounding this region as a major, high-priority nodal point for the conservation of both the golden cat and the marbled cat.

Threats & Ecology:

Because they are highly reclusive, these medium-sized felines depend on undisturbed, remote forested terrain. Despite their importance, they remain highly threatened by habitat fragmentation and historical hunting

The Asiatic Golden cat, found across parts of South and Southeast Asia, faces growing threats from habitat fragmentation, hunting, and human encroachment. Conservationists believe the Daukeling–Hebamlo initiative could become a model for grassroots conservation by combining traditional community governance with scientific conservation practices.

The declaration also highlights the increasing role of indigenous and local communities in biodiversity conservation efforts across Nagaland and the wider Northeast region, where community-owned forests continue to serve as important ecological strongholds.

Team Maverick.