Why Hundreds of Indigenous Hunters Are Surrendering Their Guns in India

Talut Siram was in his mid-30s when he gave up his gun, a move that was unusual as well as revolutionary in his community of the Adi tribe that lives in the lush pockets of the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.

“Our forefathers were hunters, and hunting for wild animals is so deeply entrenched in our lives that it is celebrated as a festival too,” the 45-year-old activist told VICE World News. 

As one of the world’s top ecoregions, Arunachal Pradesh has the second-largest forest cover—81 percent of the total area—in India. Located in one of the world’s longest mountain ranges, the Himalayas, the state is also one of India’s top biodiversity hotspots.

Traditionally, the tribal communities in the state hunted using means such as bamboo traps. Experts have noted that the introduction of technology and equipment such as airguns has the potential to “wipe out entire species.”

For the indigenous Adi people, who are known to be fierce warriors, the act of killing and eating or selling is a way of life. Guns are an accessory that they have worn with pride for generations. 

Siram surrendered his gun after witnessing many animals, birds, and even butterflies accidentally killed by air rifles. “There have been accidental killings of men with airguns,” he said. “It was like God’s way of reacting to the violence.”

So when Siram gave up his gun, he turned his personal revolution into something bigger. For 10 years, Siram faced criticism, dismissal, even death threats as he travelled across almost 300 villages in the state to raise awareness about the impact of hunting on wildlife. 

Last week, his efforts became a part of a historic moment in India. Over 500 indigenous people from around 20 villages surrendered their guns across the state. Attended by prominent state leaders, including its chief minister Pema Khandu and Union Sports Minister Kiren Ririju, the ongoing programme is called “Air Gun Surrender Abhiyan” (“abhiyan” is Hindi for campaign) and is an initiation by the state government for villagers to voluntarily surrender their guns. 

“People are surrendering even as we speak,” said Siram, who is also the secretary of an influential civil society group called Adi Bane Kebang that represents the Adi community. “They’re giving mother nature back her power in doing so.” 

Compared to the rest of India, Arunachal Pradesh is sparsely populated, and a lot of flora and fauna remain unexplored and undocumented. New discoveries continue to take place. 

In contrast, a 2020 report revealed a drastic loss of forest birds in the state, attributed to, among other factors, human activity. A small but significant survey from 2013 had found that in 51 villages across four tribes, 33 mammalian species were reportedly hunted while the hunters admitted to hunting only 11. Out of these, 20 were Endangered, Vulnerable, Near Threatened or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 

Mama Natung, Arunachal Pradesh’s Environment and Forest minister, told VICE World News that the ministry took the decision to “protect the future” of an ecosystem that “cannot be found anywhere in the world.” 

“Arunachal has one of the biggest jungles in Asia and hundreds of varieties of birds and animals,” he said. “Our tribal people do not know the value of these species. We have lost coverage and are losing our birds and wildlife. But this programme shows that people are getting aware.”

The gun surrender programme is a culmination of several years of surrenders in small numbers. Siram said that the first act of surrender came from his own village in 2018, where people surrendered 20 airguns. Then this year, small events led to several more surrenders; in some, people were given certificates of appreciation. Natung’s teams have been working with on-ground forest department officials, district officials, community-based organisations and NGOs. 

In the process, the Adis’ hunting festival called Unying Aran has also been questioned. In the festival, held in March every year, locals hunt for community-feasting as well as to sell. Animals on display include endangered species such as pheasants and flying squirrels. There have also been reports of wildlife traffickers exploiting the tradition. 

Last week at the event, state chief minister Pema Khandu appealed to the people to give up wild meat, and think critically about hunting practices during Unying Aran. “Until and unless we pledge not to eat wild meat, hunting will continue no matter how many more air-guns are surrendered in such events,” he said in the gathering. Siram said that he himself gave up wild meat a decade ago, along with his gun. 

The movement also brings to focus the ease of access to airguns, especially in the tribal belts. Tashi Mize, the Division Forest Officer in the town of Pasighat, where a surrender drive is taking place, told VICE World News that despite restrictions, many tribals have easy access to guns as they are either sold openly in markets or can be procured online. 

“I believe airguns should be banned in tribal areas as there are so many cases of misuse,” he said. “A lot of guns come from (the eastern Indian city of ) Kolkata. Many are made in China and can be bought online.” In 2019, a magistrate in the Arunachali district of West Siang tightened access to license of all air weapons. There is no data on ownership of air rifles and airguns in the state. 

Mize, who has been a forest department official for 35 years, said that this time, change is here for good. “It’s not something people are doing for a day or two,” he said. “People are going through a change in consciousness and mindset. This will stay for life.” 

Resistance, then, was a small price to pay for the larger good. “Kuta bola, harami bola (They called me a dog, a bastard),” he said. “But for positive movements, there are always negative reactions.”

Natung said that the surrendered guns will eventually find a home in a museum. “People’s names will be there. This is the first time in India such a movement has happened, and we will document it with pride.” 

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