The silent spring of Keibul Lamjao- "Paragrass"

Rahul Ashem *

Keibul Lamjao in Moirang as seen from the Road in August 2012 :: Pix - Jinendra Maibam

Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP) is famous for one and only rare and vulnerable species- the dancing deer (moves with mincing hops) popularly known as SANGAI. Back to history, total geographical area of Manipur is 22,365 sq kms including 10,983 sq kms of jungle.

KLNP is the floating national park with an area of 40 sq kms, 0.46% of the total area. The park was gazetted a sanctuary in 1969 and officially declared a National Park in 1977. The Wildlife Protection Act (1972) came into force in 1973 and Wildlife rules in 1974.

Rucervus eldi eldi, lay under the sub genus Rucervus which also includes the Cervus duvaucelii (Swamp deer) of Madhya Pradesh and Himalayan Terai (Dudhwa, Kishenpur, Uttar Pradesh) and Cervus elaphus hanglu (Hangal) of Kashmir Valley, all in one roof under the critically endangered list of the IUCN Red Data and Appendix 1 of CITES.

The animal have uniquely distinctive antlers with an extremely long brow line which forms the main beam such that the two forms a continuous curve at right angled to the closely set pedicles. The forward protruding beam appears to come out from the eyebrows signifying the name "BROW ANTLERED DEER", the English name of State animal.

Others species which share the same habitat at KLNP are Axis porcinus (Hog Deer, Kharsa); Sus scrofa (Wild Boar, Lam oak); Viverricula indica (Civet, Moirang Sathibi) and Reed dwelling birdie's.

Depending on the life style, Sangai spent most of the time in Phumdi what's called as vast morass of floating organic matter. Phumdi is the term locally use by Manipuri's and main ingredients for forming are
Phragmites karka (Tou);
Singut (no scientific name found);
Saccharum munja (Kohinum);
Saccharum latifolia (Ishing kabong);
Alpinia allughas (Pubi) and
Saccharum procerum (Singnang).

In spite the above mention, Sangai preferred to have Zizania latifolia, Saccharum atifolium, Erianthus, Capellepedium and Learsia hexandra.

Conflict are quite uncommon here in this type of particular National park i.e. no sign of carnivore but the decline in the population of animals goes on top, who's the culprit for losing the number?? The stories does not end here, the darkness still continue- Illegal habitat, Poaching or by Environmental degradation.

One common example for Environment Degradation must be diversity competiveness. Competition inhibits annihilation. Now-a-days, scholars, biologist or conservationist focus their ideology on a growing exotic weeds found in KNLP who is non toxic, hairy bole, Helophilous and Monocotic Angiospermic grass called the PARAGRASS, the silent spring threatened to endemic animal- "Ningthem".

Scientifically, Urochloa mutica are Monocotic herbs belongs to Graminae family, have the capacity to grow either on soils or swampy areas. The root look smoke white while on water or natural phenomenon in soils. Leaf long, fleshy and hairy. Grass grows up to 2 m or sometimes more, densely, rooting at nodes, power to propagate vegetatively, 5-20 racemes of inflorescene, each length are 2-13 cm long.

The grass believed to be brought as an exotic species for the presence of chemical substances which helps in enhancing the milk producing glands in cattle and other herbivore animals. This means that Demand-Supply graph is properly maintained on the buffer side of KNLP. The fact is, there is lack of consistence training for the forest people to indulge in such activities for the welfare of the surrounding environment.

The reason might be shortage of protective staff; the park is managed by an officer of the rank of DCF (Deputy Conservator of Forests). The grass is expanding in the park boundary and will take few years to cover the whole park area for giving life threatened policy to Cervidae family. This is not cleared Ningthem feeds on the grass.

The grass has show color like wild fire on the Phumdis of Loktak Lake, breaking down the ecosystem services, killing all the perennial habitat to expand population- only few species left for the animal to survive- Loklei, Pullei, Heikak, Yelli, Kolamni, all come to extinction from the largest freshwater Lake of North East. KNLP is only a few metres away from Loktak.

Like the eradication programme of Mimosa invisa (Kaziranga) and Lantana camera (Corbett) by using the cut root stock method, both are Dicotyledonic Angiosperms, Paragrass is quite a simple in comparing (Monocotic perennial herb).

Parthenium is another herb species which is difficult to kill, still spreading the allergic substances to suffer from the deadly silent disease- Asthma. The time has come to eradicate the silent spring otherwise the grass will eradicate the State animal.

Relocation of villagers from the park area is the step taken by Government of India to improve management and inviolate space for the vulnerable species. The work has been done in Corbett, Ranthambore, Sariska (all for Tigers), Gujarat (Lions) and Arunachal Pradesh (Gibbon) for the safety of schedule 1 species. For the land of Sangai, the theory gets in hand but the practical is yet to be practiced!

I would like to thank Pukhrambam Jayenta and Thockchom Tombisana for helping and guiding me to write the article in proper form.