TODAY -
Ponies stare at extinction threats
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 08 2012:
Though Manipur is famous for being the birthplace of polo, the pony breed which is closely associated with the game of polo is facing a real threat of extinction if urgent preservation measures are not initiated immediately.
At present, small groups of ponies can be seen along different roads of Imphal city which often cause traffic snarls and even accidents.
As such, these helpless animals have become a subject of public scorn and sometimes they are attacked most mercilessly.
"We are worried that the indigenous pony breed may disappear for good from the soil of Manipur.
Even if they do not disappear completely, it is possible that the original traits of ponies may disappear due to cross-breeding", said Col (Retd) M Ranjit, organising secretary (administration) of the 6th Manipur Polo International 2012 .
According to a report furnished by Polo Concerns in 2001, the number of ponies in Manipur was 1173.This figure was alarming and indicated the fast depleting population of ponies in Manipur.
While rearing ponies do not fetch any profit, pastures and grazing fields for ponies are shrinking every year.
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These are the main reasons for the fast depleting population of ponies.
The situation demands immediate attention of the Government as well as NGOs.
It is with a view to promote polo which is also a heritage sport of Manipur that the 6th Manipur Polo International is being organised from November 24 to 29 as a part of the Sangai Festival under the theme 'Save Manipuri Sangai, the original polo pony' .
Apart from teams of the Indian Polo Association and Manipur, France, Germany, England and Thailand would participate in the championship, Ranjit said.
For special coverage of the polo championship, a journalist and photographer would be invited from Australia.
Hurlingham (England) Polo Association chairman Nicholas is helping the organisers in a big way by coordinating the participating foreign teams.
Though Imphal Pologround, which is one of the oldest pologrounds, in the world has been included in the tentative list of World Heritage sites, the field has been left to its own fate without any care.
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