Pvt school teacher takes up steps to save Salamander
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik

Ukhrul, April 20 2022: A private school teacher in Ukhrul has initiated a conservation programme to save the rare and endangered Salamanders (lizard-like amphibian) in collaboration with Bredwell Conservation Museum of Ukhrul at Pharung, Ukhrul.

While speaking to this correspondent, the enthusiastic school teacher Michael Zimik elaborated his objectives to conserve Salamander which is called Lengva in the local dialect and which was once abundantly found in Ukhrul district.

Saying that the population of Salamanders, however, is diminishing gradually and the species is on the verge of vanishing from Ukhrul, Michael continued that the low pitched cry of Lengvah which sounds "twak-twak-twak" was common during the monsoon season in the past, but the same has become rare today.

He then said that Khapai spring pond will be protected to conserve Lengvah.

Informing that two adult Salamanders were sighted by Pharung villagers at Khapai spring pond in February this year, the teacher maintained that the lizard-like amphibian thrives better in a cold and isolated area where spring water is available.

Salamanders were found abundantly at Kazar, Muiyi, Pahei, Tuira areas of Ukhrul town and periphery of Posaitrung and Khapai spring water pond back in the 1980s, he added.

According to the teacher, the factors which led to drastic decrease of Salamanders population include massive deforestation at Pharung Mazum, abrupt discontinuity of mutualism (a type of symbiotic relationship where all species involved benefit from their interactions) and shrinking of spring pond areas.

To a query, Michael said that he will first revive the spring water pond "Khapai Rakhong" and dig out the mud deposited at the shallow portion to expand the spring pond to multiply the population of Salamanders and afforest the hill slopes about three kms away from the village.

He further stated that Salamander was enlisted in the IUCN red list due to the lack of community conservation spirit.

The proposed conservation site is situated about 11 kms from Ukhrul town.

Meanwhile, local environmentalist Pamkhuila Shaiza who is also head of Bredwell Conservation Museum, Ukhrul stressed on the urgency to conserve the local ecology.

She said that conservation of ecology mostly deals with flora and fauna of the location and added that conservation of botanical and zoological items will help protect 'our biodiversity and manage our ecosystem including the life and culture associated with it'.

Pamkhuila Shaiza further stated that Bredwell protects individual species, while prioritising the endangered ones, or those that are at risk from other invasive species and to sensitize the general populace to understand the ecology that is formed in response to geo-climatic condition of the geographical areas concerned.

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