On 26th January, a biological expedition team to the environs of Hponkan Razi region left Awadan village-1 for Ziadan village, about seven miles from Awadan-1. On the way, the team passed Awadan village-2. The team members U Thein Aung and U Nay Myo Shwe of the Forest Department captured the birds by nets and later released them after studying. Then they left for Ziadan village.
Ziadan village is in the north-western most part of Myanmar which is nearest to the Hponkan Razi mountain, 3,300 ft above the sea level. There are 18 households in the village. Most of the villagers are Rawan, Lisu and Lisu-Rawan national races. Their livelihood is cultivation and hunting.
The biological study team visited the house of a village hunter where they observed skins and horns of animals. The hunter told them that he had shot barking deers, bears, sambar, wild pigs, monkeys and jungle cats. The team made an overnight stop at Ziadan village.
On 27th January 2002, the expedition team went on a study tour of Ziadan surrounding area. They observed five hydroelectric power rice-pounders which the villagers used for their sustenance.
The study team provided medical treatment and lectured the villagers to promote their knowledge. The team also entertained them by drawing their portraits. The team visited a village hunter’s house and observed the feathers of birds he had hunted and the tools he used.
On 28th January 2002, the study team left Ziadan for Wangmung camp-1, five miles from Ziandan. It is the beginning of the journey in the forest and after traveling two miles, they went down to the Wangmung stream.
The team members have to walk carefully on slippery rocks along the stream. We will present the team’s journey to Wangmung camp-1 in the next programme.
