Imphal, February 23 2009: No Sangai, the rare brow-antlered deer, has been hurt or injured in the wild fire that caught the Keibul Lamjao National Park at Moirang in Manipur's Bishnupur district, the only habitat of the world known rare species of deer, on Sunday informed S Sonamani, Beat Officer (BO), Forest department and in-charge of the park.

Besides, contrary to some reports, the BO clarified that only about 20 percent of the park was burnt thus a saving grace for the Sangai which otherwise could have been caught in the wild fire.

S Sonamani also informed that the wild fire started from the Chingmei Natal side which is in the southern side of the park and also from the Thangbrel side which is in the northern side of the park.

The BO also clarified that only about 20 percent of the park was burnt though the wind was on the side of the wild fire.

It however gave a hard time to those fighting the fire, informed the BO adding that two teams, one under him and one under N Manimohan, a staff of the park, fought the fire late into the night with the fire burning till 9:00 p.m.or so.

The BO also informed a survey team under him Monday morning found that no Sangai were burnt or killed in the wildfire.

However, regarding the probable cause of the wild fire, S Sonamani alleged that the fishermen fishing in the park could be behind the fire that for a moment put the Sangai in danger of their habitat being destroyed.

He informed that fishing had been banned inside the park since February this year and alleged that angry fishermen against the banned could be behind the endangering act and appealed them not to repeat such acts which could destroy the 'the mirror of Manipur'.

With the wild fire almost destroying the only hope of the Sangai (endangered deer), S Sonamani, the beat officer and in-charge of the Keibul Lamjao National Park also blamed low manpower and the infrastructure at the park for the incident.

Besides the insufficient number of manpower, 22 (twenty-two) at present with six permanent only, the BO disclosed that the non-availability of contact systems like the wireless or codeless phones were given a hard time to the staffs of the park.

The BO also disclosed that the staffs had to use their own mobile phones for communication.

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