The Central Forest Division, Government of Manipur, in collaboration with Wildlife Explorers Manipur and the Kangla Board, successfully organised the Great Backyard Bird Count on the morning of February 14, 2026, at the historic Kangla Fort in Imphal.

The bird count exercise, which began at 7:00 am, saw enthusiastic participation from forest officials, members of Wildlife Explorers, and several wildlife enthusiasts and volunteers.

Among those present were Vikram Suresh Nadhe, IFS, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Central Forest Division; Aquib Jamal, IFS, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), Central Forest Division; K. Sashikanta Sharma, Superintendent of the Kangla Board; and office bearers of Wildlife Explorers, Manipur. The officials interacted with participants and encouraged greater public involvement in conservation activities.

The programme aimed to raise awareness about urban biodiversity and promote citizen participation in bird monitoring. The Great Backyard Bird Count is a global citizen-science initiative that generates valuable data on bird populations and their distribution patterns worldwide.

Participants documented a variety of bird species within the Kangla Fort premises, underlining the ecological importance of the historic site as a key green space in the heart of Imphal.

Speaking on the occasion, Vikram Suresh Nadhe said the Great Backyard Bird Count is not merely a birdwatching activity but a powerful citizen-science movement that connects people with nature. He noted that urban green spaces such as Kangla Fort serve as crucial refuges for biodiversity and emphasised the importance of sensitising citizens, particularly the youth, about habitat conservation and biodiversity documentation.

Aquib Jamal highlighted that public participation remains the backbone of successful conservation efforts and stated that every bird recorded contributes to a broader global understanding of ecological health.

Brajesh Khoyumthem of Wildlife Explorers, Manipur, also addressed the gathering, stating that citizen-science initiatives empower local communities to contribute meaningfully to global biodiversity databases. He observed that Kangla Fort continues to demonstrate its importance as a biodiversity hotspot within Imphal city and expressed optimism about strengthening collaboration with the Forest Department in future conservation and awareness programmes.

The Central Forest Division expressed appreciation to Wildlife Explorers, the Kangla Board and all participants for their active involvement and reaffirmed its commitment to promoting conservation awareness and citizen engagement in biodiversity monitoring initiatives.