Dodging bullets to save sparrows in strife-hit Manipur

In conflict-affected Manipur, an environmentalist living along the tense border of Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts continues his sparrow conservation work despite recurring gunfire and security risks, TOI reported.

Anish Ahamad, a resident of Kwakta village, has been running a “Save Sparrow” mission for the past seven years. As the monsoon approaches, he has been distributing and installing handmade sparrow nests across villages, advising families on how to secure them before heavy rain and strong winds disrupt nesting.

According to Ahamad, he has installed over 600 sparrow nests and distributed nearly 300 free of cost. He estimates that local sparrow populations have increased by 4,000–5,000 annually due to the initiative. “House sparrows have an extensive breeding season from March to September. They are prolific breeders, capable of producing two to four, sometimes five broods per year,” he said, adding that a nest can be made for less than Rs 5.


However, his work has been repeatedly disrupted since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur in 2023. Ahamad, who belongs to the Meitei Pangal (Muslim) community, said he has had to suspend activities at times due to security concerns.

“Due to the unfortunate incidents, I had to stay indoors without venturing out to work for a week. At certain points, I needed to move out to other places for safety, and in the process my activities were hampered and could not be taken forward,” he said.

Living near the district border has added to the risks. “The conflicting parties frequently engaged in fierce gun battles at any point of time. Living in the border between Churachandpur and Bishnupur district, we used to get caught in the crossfire if we ventured out carelessly,” he said, adding that it has been difficult to continue his work smoothly under such circumstances.

Ahamad received the State Wildlife Incentive Award in 2022 and 2023. He said most of his conservation efforts have been carried out independently, without government backing.

Beyond sparrow conservation, Ahamad said he has handed over more than 35 wildlife species to the state forest department, planted around 2 lakh saplings and distributed 50,000 saplings free of cost.

The initiative, which began as a personal effort inspired by memories of his late father Abdul Ajij, continues amid ongoing tensions in the state.

With inputs from TOI