Arunachal Pradesh declares Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival (PPHF) as “State Festival”

The Arunachal Pradesh government has recently declared the Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival (PPHF)–the state’s only conservation festival, as a “State Festival”. The purpose of the fest is to recognise the role played by the resident Nyishi tribe in conserving hornbills in the Pakke Tiger Reserve (PTR), to devise alternative sources of income for a region that relies on hunting and logging, and to tell the rest of the country about the wonders of the PTR and its surrounding areas. As part of the festival, visitors are treated to cultural programmes, food stalls, plays, sightseeing, river and village walks, bird-watching, screenings of short films as well as local tribal sports and dances.