Imphal, April 26 2009: With army troops deployed in and around the Keibul Lamjao National Park in the Loktak Lake pulling out after cessation of the insurgents flush-out exercise code-named Operation Summer Storm normal activities such as fishing and collection of food have resumed.

The Loktak Lake serves as a source of sustenance for many of the dwellers in the periphery of one of the largest fresh water lakes in the region and resumption of daily chores could be observed when a team of journalists accompanied the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO/Park and Sanctuary) L Muhindro to assess the situation.

The DFO also told the media team that so far surveys undertaken by forest guards deployed in the wildlife sanctuary and members of local NGOs as well as representatives of Sangai Protection Forum had not come across signs of the protected brow antlered deer (Sangai) or other endangered species killed as a consequence of the operation during which heavy firing and mortar shelling reportedly took place.

Muhindro quoted the surveyors as saying that the endangered Sangai species could be observed in their natural habitat thereby nullifying apprehension that a number of wildlife might have got killed during the operation.