Why in News?
Nagaland’s 26th Hornbill Festival began on December 1, 2025, amid state opposition to the Centre’s Protected Area Permit (PAP) regime, which the state says is restricting tourism and investment.
Description:
Hornbill Festival (Nagaland):
1. Flagship cultural festival of Nagaland; held annually at Kisama Heritage Village.
2. Organised by the Nagaland Tourism Department; 2025 budget: ₹7 crore.
3. First festival post re-imposition of PAP (Dec 2024) for Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram.
4. Celebrates the heritage of all major Naga tribes, with events on music, crafts, cuisine, literature and night carnivals.
5. Named after the Hornbill bird, revered in Naga culture for its symbolism of valour and prosperity.
Hornbill (Bird):
1. Family: Bucerotidae, found in tropical/subtropical Africa, Asia, Melanesia.
2. India: Mostly in Western Ghats and Northeastern states.
3. Diet: 40–70% fruits → major frugivores; important seed dispersers → called “farmers of the forest”.
4. 9 Indian species; all except the Oriental Pied Hornbill are under WPA Schedule I.
5. Major species & IUCN status:
a. Great Hornbill – Vulnerable (State Bird of Arunachal Pradesh & Kerala)
b. Rufous-necked – Vulnerable
c. Wreathed – Vulnerable
d. Malabar Grey – Vulnerable
e. Malabar Pied – Near Threatened
f. Narcondam Hornbill – Vulnerable; endemic to Narcondam Island
6. Cultural significance: Central to Naga identity; festival named after it.
7. Threats: Habitat loss, illegal logging, hunting for casques, feathers, meat; poaching for “medicinal” use.
Other Relevant Fact:
Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival (Arunachal Pradesh): Community-led conservation festival protecting hornbill species inside Pakke Tiger Reserve.
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