Shirui, June 19 | EKHON: An Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus), a species listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, has been recorded on a camera trap in Shirui Village, Ukhrul District, marking an encouraging sign of ecological recovery in the region.
The rare wildlife sighting was documented during a biodiversity monitoring exercise carried out by Patrick Shangh, Co-founder of ENFOGAL, in collaboration with Pamreithing Luireiwo, a hunter-turned-conservationist whose local expertise was instrumental in identifying key monitoring locations, along with P.A. Reikhokshing Shimray, an intern assisting in the field survey.
According to conservationists involved in the monitoring effort, the capture is believed to be among the first official camera-trap records of the Asiatic Black Bear from the Shirui area, adding to the growing recognition of the village as a successful example of community-driven conservation in Manipur.
The sighting is being seen as direct evidence of the positive outcomes resulting from reduced hunting pressure and sustained community conservation initiatives over the past three years, which have helped create safer habitats for wildlife to recover and thrive.
Consistent conservation efforts, community participation, and long-term protection measures have resulted in producing measurable results in restoring fragile ecosystems and securing the future of endangered wildlife in the region.
