Strategies for saving our "Ningthem"
- Part 2 -

Kh Hitler Singh *

Sangai - A jewel in the crown for Manipur - Picture Credit :: Rocky Pebam

Sangai population in the Wild:-Sangai was reported extinct in 1951 at Keibul area; but counted 14 heads in 1975. The population of Sangai reached 180 in 2003 census.
(Increasing trend of Sangai Population)

Year	Census Type	Number of Sangai Stag	Number of Sangai Hind	Number of Sangai Fawn	Total
1975	Aerial	-	-	-	14
1977	Aerial	6	8	4	18
1978	Aerial	9	10	14	23
1979	Aerial	9	13	8	30
1984	Ground	20	25	6	57
1986	Ground	44	45	6	95
1991	Ground	37	51	16	104
1995	Ground	58	69	25	152
1996	Ground	57	65	21	143
1999	Ground	63	61	25	149
2000	Ground	54	76	32	162
2003	Ground	65	74	41	180

Source: Protected Area Net Work of Manipur.

Problems in achieving the above objectives are enlisted herewith.
(a) High water level in the Park due to Ithai Barrage.
(b) Limited high level ground & decreasing thickness and fragmentation of the Phumdi.
(c) Changing vegetation and changing phumdi area.
(d) Wildfire (e) Deterioration of water quality.
(f) Sangai utilizes a limited area intensively thus reduce carrying capacity of the Park.
(g) Problems Related With Protection and Anthropogenic Issues
(h) Boundary demarcation
(i) Illegal collection of fodder, fuel wood, vegetables and NTFPs
(j) Theft of phumdi
(k) Poor socio-economic condition of people settling around the Park.
(l) Inadequate infrastructure of the Park.
(m) Flash flood (n) Absence of veterinary Care Unit
(o) Poaching
(p) Encroachment
(q) Fishing
(r) Lack of sense of ownership among the local peoples
(s) Few wildlife trained Staff
(t) Mortalities of Sangai due different reasons, poaching, trapping & poisoning etc
(u) Single isolated Population & Inbreeding
(v) Lack of connectivity etc

TOURISM, INTERPRETATION AND CONSERVATION EDUCATION AT KLNP.

TOURISM IN PROTECTED AREAS IS INCREASING ACROSS THE GLOBE.

The main objective of tourism in KLNP are

(a) To promote KLNP as a major Tourist attraction of Manipur
(b) To provide eco-Tourism in the park
(c) To create sustainable livelihood for local people through Tourism
(d) To provide informed wilderness experience to visitors
(e) To induce the visitors to perceive a cross section of PA values
(f) Reduction of dependency of villagers over Keibul Lamjao National Park
(g) Development of ecologically sustainable and economically viable package of alternatives, which are acceptable to people and such packages should be self sustaining and in harmony with Keibul Lamjao National Park.

Ex-situ Conservation.

Manipur Zoological Garden was established on 2nd October 1976. The zoo is established for the recreation and educative purposes for the general public. The zoo is also functioned as ex-situ conservation centre for many endangered wildlife species. In many highly endangered wild animals; zoo has eventually helped in-situ conservation by captive breeding and eventually reintroducing the captive breed into the wild habitat.

Second home of sangai is one such facility for reproduction by captive breeding under zoo management. Captive breeding of Sangai is being undertaken in the Second Home. The population of sangai in the second home is fifteen in 2012. There are more than 100 sangai in 15 different Zoo of India, which suggest that the deer is very good in adaptation in different climatic and bio-geographic zones.

Reintroduction programme.

Reintroduction programme means; endangered wild animals are taken from the existing habitats to other suitable habitats or former range of the wild animals to ensure better chance of existence or increase of the population or genetic diversity of the wild animal. The value of captive breed Sangai is relatively inferior genetically for long term conservation. Off course in inevitable situation captive breed wild animals are also used for reintroduction in the wild. But it is better to use wild animals for reintroduction in the wild.

Thus a recovery programme of Sangai where reintroduction of wild sangais to other suitable alternative sites is a major component; was undertaken recently. Rescue centre was constructed at KLNP over 3 Ha (First Phase Completed). For Second Phase land acquisition process for 7 ha is at the final stage. The rescue centre is meant for taking care of injured sangai, taking sangai for their biological study. At later stage captured sangai from the Park will be observed in the rescue centre and reintroduce them in suitable sites to increase the genetic diversity and increase chance of survival of Sangai in the wild.

The Proposed reintroduction sites are.

1) Langol Reserve Forest, Imphal West District.

2) Sambei Reserve Forest, Imphal East District.

3) Heingang Reserve Forest, Imphal West District.

4) Pumlenpat and adjoining Thongam Mondum Hillock, Thoubal District.

5) Kailam Wildlife Sanctuary, Churchandpur District.

6) Yangoupokpi Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandel District

7) Ikoppat, Thoubal District

8) Nongmaijing Reserve Forest, Imphal East District

Preliminary Surveys were carried out in all the sites except sl. No 5 & 6.

Sangai and Keibul Lamjao National Park are the precious natural heritage of Manipur having universal outstanding values prescribed by World Heritage Centre, Paris. We cannot think of losing it; we should save it at any cost. The value of Sangai & its unique habitat cannot be compensated by any amount of money to the Manipur society. Sangai shall continue to introduce Manipur all over the world for generation to come. Therefore, please love your Ningthem and let us not harm its home Keibul Lamjao National Park.

I would like to thank Shri L. Joykumar Singh IFS, Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Park & Sanctuary Division for his kind permission to publish this article for inculcating compassion for wildlife to the general public.

Concluded ...

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* Kh Hitler Singh wrote this article for The Sangai Expres
This article was posted on December 02, 2012

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