A file photo of Sangai (cervus eldi eldi)
In the Siroi Kashong range of Ukhrul district, a rare bird
called nongyin (Hume’s barred back pheasant) is found. It is the state bird of
Manipur. Another beautiful bird is blyth’s tragopan, found only in Manipur,
Mizoram and Nagaland. The cock has strikingly colourful feathers of red,
yellow, blue and grey etc., while the hen is of dull grey plumage only. In the
Keilam hill range of Churachandpur district hornbills are found during their
seasonal migration from Tamenglong district to Tipaimukh area. The great Indian
hornbill called uchek langmeidong, brown backed hornbill, rufous necked
hornbill, wreathed hornbill and Indian pied or lesser pied hornbill are there.
In the valley lies the Loktak Lake where water birds like
gadwall, pink head duck, cotton tail duck and night heron along with common
teals and mallards become victims of regular human visits. Many of them end up
as statistics in the ledgers of local hotel managers.
On the periphery of the Lake lies the Keibul Lamjao National
Park, 50 km. south of Imphal. With dark brown coat and gracefully curved
antlers, this state animal of Manipur called Sangai (cervus eldi eldi) lives in
complete harmony with wild boars and hog deers. Their hooves are structurally
adapted to marshy land. It is one of the three sub-species found in Southeast Asia.
The other two being cervus eldi thamin and cervus eldi siamensis respectively.
Unlike her two brothers, the Sangai is almost on the brink of extinction and
its only habitat on the entire globe is the above named Park only.
The semi floating habitat of the animal made of tangled and
decayed reeds and grass mixed with humus called phumdi is unique and somewhat
similar to schwingmoor of Europe. In the rainy season it floats whereas in the
winter it gets nutrients from the bottom of the lake. With the advent of the
Loktak Project, this delicate ecosystem faces a threat.
The gharial is found in the Maku river near Oinamlong in
Tousem subdivision of Tamenglong district. The hoolock gibbon, yongmu in
Manipuri, is found along the North Cachar hills border while the peafowl is
seen in Chandel district bordering Myanmar. In the Yangoupokpi Wildlife
Sanctuary, there are reports of sighting panthera tigris at times. The clouded
leopard, jungle cat, golden cat etc., are frequently seen by the travellers
there. During the seasonal change, herds of pachyderms from Myanmar sojourned
inside the Sanctuary for weeks. The serow (capricornis sumatraensis), a rare
species, is also found.
The slash and burn method of cultivation called jhoom in the
hills, the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers and insecticides in the
valley coupled with illegal felling of trees by greedy timber merchants are
responsible for the dwindling number of wild denizens. The Indian wild dog
called huithou in Manipuri (cuone alpinus) which once roamed the villages is
today not seen. The population of mithun, wild buffalo, gaur, goral, sambar, porcupine,
pangolin, falcon, bear etc., is fast reducing and at this rate their extinction
is not far away. The cries of crows and chongas in mornings are not heard
nowadays.
On May 15 1973 the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972 was
introduced and under Section 64 of the Act, the Wild Life (Protection) Manipur
Rules 1974 was enacted on June 27 1974. A Zoological Garden, covering an area
of 8 hectares at Iroishemba village, 6 km., west of Imphal was started on
October 2 1976. However, the government alone cannot conserve and protect all
the wild birds and animals. The
cooperation of the people is highly needed. Some years back a group of
superstitious villagers of Thinungei prevented the officials of Forests
department from rescuing a python morulus, lairen in Manipuri, with the result
that the poor reptile was denied proper care and thus met a tragic end. Many
such incidents happened elsewhere went unreported. The changing face of
biodiversity is well reflected in the dwindling population of wild life.
Konjengbam Kameshore
(Courtesy: Eastern Panorama, March 1994)
