Sanctuary for ponies : A misnomer
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 28 2014 : The word 'sanctuary' is a gross misnomer for the Manipur ponies being kept at the so called pony sanctuary near Marjing temple in Heingang Assembly Constituency.

There is nothing to eat.

There is no grass at the sanctuary.

Around 70 ponies were seen cloistered at the area, which is surrounded by barbed wires.

Some fodder were seen lying in one of the shacks, but none to feed the fodders to the animals.

The once mighty ponies known for their sturdiness and sure-footedness have been literally left to the point of total extinction.

"We gave the world the game of polo", so read a large banner put up at the international polo tournament held at Imphal last year as part of the annual Manipur Sangai Tourism Festival.

But both the Government as well as the public seem to have lost the idea of intrinsic and organic relationship ponies have with the game of polo.

What is seen at the sanctuary stands contradictory to the tall claim made by the people of Manipur.

It is a matter of time before these ponies virtually kept in detention without food perish altogether.

Sanctuary for ponies : A misnomer

The ponies at the Marjing sanctuary show all the telltale signs of being ill-treated and under-fed.

The animals were skinny.

The rib bones appeared prominently.

Tingkai Khunou pony breeding farm launched with much fanfare had failed in the past but the Government did not learn anything from the past failures.

If piggery farms and poultry farms set up by Manipur Government through its concerned department failed, one finds its hard to expect a successful pony sanctuary whether it is at Heingang or Khundrakpam.

It would be much better if the pony owners are allowed to take back the animals from the sanctuary.

Pony sanctuary at Heingang and Khundrakpam assembly constituencies came into existence in November last year.

Hopes ran high when the Government made the announcement to this effect.

30 stables were constructed, 15 each in the two constituencies.

All that is happening now at the two constituencies reveal sheer insensitivity and irresponsibility of the concerned authorities.

The actual number of ponies in Manipur is only 800 of which the number of females is less than 300.If the population of a breed is less than 2000, it is considered an endangered breed.

The rate of death of Manipur pony is higher than the rate of birth.

The little few infant ponies cordoned off at Heingang are really skinny.

Unless proper care is given, these animals will never be fit to play the game of polo.

The need of the hour is to increase the number of care takers at the sanctuary and the quantity of fodders supplied for the animals.

Proper surveillance also should be done to check whether the animals are properly fed when there is no grass to graze.

Although it is rainy season, no grass is seen on the ground.

The situation demands immediate attention of the Government's highest authority.