The old tales are filled with entertaining animal stories, sadly most of these animals have now completely disappeared from the the Naga Hills because of merciless hunting by human beings. Here are some of the images of animals mentioned in the Sumi folktales.
1. Anengyu - Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis)
Such an adorable and magnificent, huggable baby! There are many wonderful stories of Anengyu in Sumi folklore but it is really heart-breaking that this beautiful cat that once roamed the forests of Nagaland without fear has almost vanished. There are people in Nagaland including my relatives who still kills wild animals for fun or as an ancient practice and they have little or no awareness about preserving wildlife. I have a hopeless feeling that it might be too late looking at the kind of mindless massacre carried out in last 100 years and our rigid perceptions about wild animals that they are meant to be killed for food!!
2. Akaku - Nightjar (Caprimulgus macrurus)
Long-tailed nocturnal bird, feeds on large insects and nests on the ground. Associated with the myth of stealing goat's milk. Rarely found anywhere near our villages these days.
3. Aqhu - Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor)
Probably the No.1 famous victim. I remember witnessing a procession where a killed Sambar was tied to a long rod by its legs, it large dead eyes facing skyward, and carried around the village with a lot of singing and shouting in the background. These days children in the village hardly know what Aqhu is.
4. Liliti - Dark-necked Tailorbird (Orthotomus atrogularis)
5. Aghacho - Great Hornbill (Buceros Bicornis)
Hornbill Feathers on head gears at Hornbill festival, Nagaland (Photo from http://southdillipunj.sulekha.com/albums/)
6. Atsϋgho - Otter (Aonyx cinerea)
7. Chilichepu - Minivet Red
A good job, pretty late with the lack of awareness & publicity but hopping that our people soon learn the differences of the value, either to be big mouth towards its meat or to be big minded towards its existing in our land.
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