Sube Sies are special places in Ziro area (I am not sure of their existence in other places) where the mithuns come to drink water. The water in such places are said to be salty. The picture above is one of the better known sie at Siiro. There are piita sies where birds come to drink water too! Birdwatchers, watch out this space for more.
Scientifically it is true. All the wildlife (animals/birds) need salt and they find natural salt lick and water hole. In NP and Wildlife Sanctuaries where human intervention is there, at times w provide them hanging salt block or artificial salt lick by puddling the ground with common salt and also dig artificial pond as water hole.
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As indeed you have observed, natural salt licks/salt springs are found throughout Tani areas--they draw all kinds of animals domestic and wild.
ReplyDeleteSie( Soi in many Tani lingos),esp the more 'popular' ones, are owned individually or collectively and infringement of such sources by hunters from other areas have firm consequences--and why not--you just wait for the protein to come to you here:)
Some 'Sie' have thousands of birds coming to them in dry season--people simply sit in the vicinity behind some bush/screen and throw out swirling sticks boomerang-style to knock them down--no need to waste arrows/bullets!
Others have elephants,bison,monkeys,deer etc coming.I hv seen several lesser 'sie's...Sies in vicinity of villages are favorite sites for tracking/capturing recalcitrant Mithuns:)
---Buru
@Tago & Buru, interesting informations. Thanks for the contributions. I saw a several interesting 'holes' - must be what you call 'salt licks' on the Mengio road, where the mithuns come to lick.
ReplyDeleteI also heard of a rather disturbing practices of some Miri people who live in the jungles of Ziro (logging and sawing) and tempt animals, especially deers with bundles of salt tied on cloths and shooting them.
Things are not moving in right direction. I do sometimes agree to those illiterate persons hunting wild animals for trophy to be counted when they will be laid some down the ground. But I'm unable to understand those literate person going for hunting very often. At time community hunting for ritual purpose is unavoidable like 'biding paniin' etc but what about those who have taken it up as hobby? Wildlife law should strictly be enforced.
ReplyDeleteUnder the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 any body who hunts wild animal without permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden or his authorised officer, is punishable with imprisonment which may extend to 3 months or with fine 25000 or both. In case of Schedule I and II animals it is much more stringent. Propagation of Mass awareness is required about the legal provisions.
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