Arunachal clan translocates endangered ray-finned fish to safer stream in conservation drive

Itanagar: Members of the Sangno clan in Arunachal Pradesh have launched a community drive to conserve an endangered ray-finned fish while sustaining local tradition.

The clan translocated 52 fingerlings of Schizothorax pelzami, a high-altitude snow trout, from one stream in East Kameng district to another where they will be relatively safer from predatory mahseer.

Schizothorax pelzami is listed among threatened species and faces pressure from habitat disturbance and predation. The new stream was chosen for its cooler waters and fewer natural predators, giving the fingerlings a better chance of survival.

The initiative reflects a growing trend of community-led conservation in Arunachal Pradesh, where traditional knowledge is being used to protect fragile aquatic species. For the Sangno clan, the fish also holds cultural significance, linking ecological protection with the continuation of local customs.

Forest officials in East Kameng have acknowledged the clan’s effort, noting that such grassroots action complements formal conservation programs in the state’s biodiversity-rich eastern Himalayan landscape.

The translocated fingerlings will be monitored by community members to track survival rates and growth, with the goal of establishing a stable population in the safer habitat.