Three Nongin chicks hatch
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 10 2019:
For the second time, three Nongin chicks hatched today at the Sangai Second Home, Langol.
Notably, Nongin is the State bird of Manipur.
Forest Department has been implementing a captive breeding programme of Nongin at Manipur Zoological Garden and the Sangai Second Home.
Three Nongin chicks hatched in June last year but one chick died while the other two survived.
Out of seven eggs being incubated by an adult Nongin, three hatched today, informed a source adding that two other adult Nongins are also incubating at present.
The two Nongin chicks which hatched last year have grown up and there are 11 Nongins at Manipur Zoological Garden and the Sangai Second Home.
Animal Attendant Angam Kamodang who has been taking key roles in the Forest Department's captive breeding programme said that it is crucial to ensure rats do not enter the enclosures where Nongins are incubating.
If rats somehow find their way inside the enclosures, snakes may also find their way and they may eat the Nongin eggs, Angam said.
Every time a rat hole is made, it is filled promptly and close vigil is kept as soon as Nongins start laying eggs so that visitors are kept away from them, said the Animal Attendant.
It took 27 days for the Nongin eggs to hatch last year and it took 29 days this year, he added.