Team studies ecosystem of Barak riverine
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 11 2012:
With an attempt to document the flora and fauna of terrestrial and aquatic regime of Barak basin, a fourteen-member team led by Dr RK Ranjan, Director of College Development Council, Manipur University has conducted a study on the ecosystem of Barak Riverine recently under the sponsorship of International River Network.
According to Dr RK Ranjan, the team which started the study on July 3, encountered many interesting amphibian species like red-eyed frog, species of reptiles and fish habitation.
In Dholakhal Punji village, an area where the team conducted the first phase of the field study, the team members were told about sighting tigers and leopards in the Munlian forest area of the lower Barak.
The chief of Dholakhal Punji, from Hmar community, told them that an adult Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris) was killed one year back by unidentified hunters.
He also narrated to them about an attack of a potter and an AR jawan by tiger.
Rich in reptile fauna, the area has also many frog species, snakes, water monitor lizards, calotes species, skinks, geckos, sambar, deer, wild boar, and other small mammals.
The team member said the concern should be focused on community-based education and conservation initiative from the State.
The team also indicated that setting up of a Reptile Research and Conservation Station of North East at Dholakhal Punji would be very suitable.
The members felt that the only factor that is making things worse in superbly rich bio-diversity State is climate change while citing the recent flood of Jiri River which washed away 32 houses and rendered 102 families homeless, as an instance.
Based on the result of the documentation, a comprehensive check list of the flora and fauna of the basin would be prepared, the team said.