Zeilad Water Body Complex and Barak Falls
(Gifts of nature of high economy and tourism potentials)
- Part 3 -

Dr H Nandiram / GS Laitonjam *

Buning - Tamenglong - The Natural Paradise :: Pix - Gaikhamdim Marangmei

Fauna :- Faunal representative is very rich in this Barak flowing zone of Tamenglong District.

Avifauna:- Away from sound polluted urban area, one can experience in the Barak Valley, at the moment, the natural sounds of the 1940's and 50's of the Central valley, disturbing the silence of the nature. The noise there, is the chirping sounds of birds in varied tunes including that Nongoubee (a pheasant occasionally calling for rain during the dry season). Lamyen (pheasant) is very common in this area. We came across it while trekking through the forest.

It is reported , in the navigable zone of the Barak there are abundant migratory birds. Commonly 4-5 varieties of migratory water birds are seen and many of them are shot as game ( April- May , every year). In the months of October and November, migratory birds bearing metal ring are on the canopy of trees and bamboos in the flanking hill ranges of the Irang and the Barak.

It is likely a bird of the species of falcons/ eagle ( known as 'Khoipuna' by the Rongmeis). It is also reported by a villager, if lucky, one may shoot upto 100 birds in a single day. It may also be mentioned that while we were boating at Zeilad Water body we saw an eagle ( Umaibee), on the nearby tree of the pool, watching its prey.

Reptiles: Much told myths based on struggles between pythons and men indicates a long history of abundance of Lairen ( Phython sp) in Zeilad water body complex and the Barak river course of the region.

In fact, the area is an ideal habitat of pythons, characterised by still and non-still water bodies with abundant fish fauna and thick vegetation on gradient slopes. Another species of this group in this area is hard shell reptile (turtle/ tortoise/ a fresh water chelonian Spp).

One of the water bodies of Zeilad is named after Thengu (Tortoise). It is also reported that many a species of snakes are in this area. One of our team mates told us that he saw a big snake coiling on a tree branch, while he was boating on the water of Zeilad with some of his teammates.

Amphibians:- Among the amphibians frogs, toads, tree toads, tiny hill toads etc are common in the still water bodies.

Piscifauna:- Fish representatives are riverine ( Comparatively lesser in the northern course of the falls) and resident in the still water bodies . In the upper course of the Brark i.e the northern course of the stepped falls, we find Nunga( Tor/ Barilius sp), Rohu, Mirgal, carps, crabs, porom (Channa sp), Ngamu, Ngawa ( Raiamas/ Schistura sp) Prawn etc. In the Zeliad water body the most common species are porom, Ngamu ( Channa Orientalis), Phabou –Nga( Puntinus sp) , Ngasep ( Mystus sp). It is reportd , Ngaril Laina ( Anguilla sp) is also common in the Barak water.

Other Faunal Species:- As per reports, species of cat family ( Felis), deer family, bear, wild boar,3-4 species of monkey group , otter (Lutra vulgaris), safu (Pangolin sp., ant eater) species, Gecko, Squirrels, Porcupine, Mongoose ( Herpestes sp) etc. are common denizens and often hunted. It is also told by the villagers that once the area was frequented by wild elephants but in these days they are seen very rarely.

Like wise, big cats are not seen in the forested areas of the Barak, however, reports for killing of such animals in other areas of Tamenglong are there.

Environmental status:-

The present environmental status in this interior zone of Tamenglong is not as good as expected. The percentage of primary forest is very very low and the population of aged trees is very thin.

Though accountably reduced, slashing and burning is still going on, perhaps, because of the lack of exploitation/ introduction of feasible alternatives.

The local people are less environmentally educated. They are still in the habit of living in abundance of the past. CHANGE OF LIVING HABITAT IS THE ONLY MEANS TO SAVE ONE'S ETHNIC CULTURE AND HABITAT IN THIS PRESENT WORLD OF SCARCITY.

It is afraid, better roads and bridges across the Barak before being the people environmentally educated and conscious, this zone of Manipur with high tourism and horticulture prospects may be destroyed to a state of no regeneration.

PROSPECTS AND POTENTIALS:-

The flood plains of Barak, on either side are large in area and gifted with the fertile sandy alluvial soil. The altitude is low with abundant water bodies hence adorned with hot humid condition, i.e, natural green house effect which is ideal for horticultural farms. Tea plants are growing, indigenously, here and there. In Vanchengphai (Hmar village) tea bushes are being maintained in the courtyard for domestic use.

Traditionally the people of Barak Valley drink water, boiled with fresh tea leaf as preventive doses of malaria. Cashew, Betel-nut plant ( Arecaplant), coconut, Yongchak ( Perkia roxburghi), Tamarind, mango etc are growing luxuriantly but none of these plants except 'Yongchak' are planted as a cash crops.

A good number of horticultural species may be introduced and cultivated as alternative means of earning by abandoning the less yielding and aged 'slashing and burning technique' for plantation of Taro (Colocasia), cucurbits and dry rice varieties.

The 4th and 5th and the 7th falls may, very well, be exploited for installation of micro hydel power projects. The output of it will be more than sufficient for the whole district. Once it is installed the pressure on the forest will be almost nil and the necessary power for farms and domestic consumption will also be met. The modern development is entirely on power but with consciousness of environment.

It is hoped some of these feasible alternatives will be flourishing soon and dwindling forest around will be conserved before being wiped out leaving no indigenous specimens to be shown to the generations to come. For ones information, indigenous forest elements are very very rare in China( yellow river bed), Egypt, Mesopotamia, Middle America, Western Punjab, Gangetic plain etc. These are places where civilization flourished with people without environmental education and knowledge.

Let the people from all over the globe may see the ethnic culture and beautiful attire of the local people , evolved in interaction with elements of wilderness of the region and enjoy the myriad of gifts of nature in the ethnic houses of beautiful valley of the Barak.

TO CONQUER THE NATURE FOR DEVELOPMENT HAS ENDANGERED THE EARTHLY ENVIRONMENT, OUR ONLY HOME IN THE UNIVERSE. TO SAVE THE LOCAL SURROUNDING FOR SUSTENANCE OF GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT ENHANCES THE SAFEGUARD OF INEVITABLE INTRINSIC RELATIONSHIP AMONG BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC COMPONENTS OF ENVIRONMENT AND THE STABILITY OF OTHER LIVING ORGANISMS, THE VERY BASIS FOR SURVIVAL OF MAN.

PLEASE GET ONESELF INVOLVED IN THIS RELIGION OF HUMANITY OF THE PRESENT WORLD AND DO SOME POSITIVE THINGS OF BEING BORN A MAN, FOR THE MOTHER EARTH.

Concluded..