KLNP likely to shrink due to climate change
New study emphasises on ex-situ conservation of Sangai
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 10 2021: The Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP) which is the only natural habitat of the endangered Sangai is likely to shrink considerably after three decades or so.

And as such, there is an urgent need to step up ex-situ conservation measures in addition to expediting habitat resto-ration works.

A research work carried out by Vicky Anand, research scholar and others from the Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology (NIT), Imphal under the guidance of Dr Bakimchandra Oinam, Associate Professor revealed that the KLNP is likely to shrink drastically by 2050-70 due to climate change which would pose a serious threat to the survival of Sangai, the State animal of Manipur.

Sangai (Rucervus eldii eldii) is an endangered species and it has a very limited natural habitat.

As per Schedule 1 of Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Eld's deer are considered to be one of the most endangered deer species in India.

Rucervus eldii eldii (Sangai) was once reported extinct in 1951 and was re-discovered, and six heads were detected in a survey conducted under the aegis of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 1953 .

There are three species of Rucervus eldii in the world; Rucervus eldii thamin of Myanmar, Rucervus eldii siamensis of Thailand, and Rucervus eldii eldii (Sangai) of Manipur.

Of the three Eldii species, Sangai has the least population in the wild and is thus most endangered.

Rucervus eldii eldii is a medium-sized deer; the size of a fully grown Rucervus eldii eldii stag is about 110 to 125 cm high at the shoulder and Rucervus eldii eldii hind is about 105 cm.

The length of an adult buck ranges between 145 and 155 cm.

The mature Rucervus eldii eldii stag weighs about 110 kg.

Sangai deer is a noble and graceful animal, which is found nowhere in the world except at Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP) over the floating biomass in the south eastern part of Loktak Lake.

Sangai is listed as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and Schedule I of the Indian Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.Sangai is also included in Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The research work carried out by Vicky Anand and others from the Department of Civil Engineering, NIT studied the habitat suitability potential for the current scenario and projected future scenarios of potential habitat suitability of the Sangai in KLNP based on climatic conditions and topography of the region.

The study used two climate change scenarios or representative concentration pathway (RCP) scenarios (RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5) to create geographical distribution maps for 2050 and 2070 and compared them to the current potential distribution map.

Rainfall during monsoon season and iso-thermality are cited as the principal factors which would impact the suitability of KLNP as the natural habitat of Sangai.

The study indicates that the high suitability zones within the KLNP will decrease in terms of area and the high suitability zone will be confined to the central core zone of the park.

Moreover, the high suitability zone will shift from the western periphery of KLNP towards the central portion.

Highlighting a likely increase in both precipitation and temperature in the Manipur River basin which encompasses Loktak Lake and KLNP, the study predicts high risk of floods in the lower regions near Loktak Lake and landslides in the northern part of the basin although there may not be any serious problem of water scarcity in the coming decades in the Manipur River basin.

According to the study, precipitation is expected to increase more during monsoon and post-monsoon season as compared to pre-monsoon and dry season which may lead to stagnation of water in the low-lying wetland areas near Loktak Lake which would further raise the risk of flooding in the future.

In such a scenario, Sangai would be cornered by heavy rains and flood to specific hard grounds within the park.

The KLNP has three hillocks and a 100-200 metre wide area locally known as Thangbral-yangbi which is the only hard ground in the entire park; the rest of the area is covered by swampy phumdis.

These features provide suitable feeding, bedding, and breeding ground for the Sangai.

But flooding during the monsoon season raises the water level of Loktak Lake which adversely affects the swampy phumdis.

The three hillocks and the Thangbral-yangbi are the only high/hard grounds in the entire park on which the deer can take rest and shelter specially during heavy rains and floods, which makes the suitability zone very limited during monsoon season, according to the authors.

"It was observed that the high suitability potential zone from western periphery of the KLNP to the central zone is getting shifted in the year 2050 but still the high potential patches are in minor contact with the western periphery, but in 2070 under both the RCPs it was seen that the high potential zone is completely limited to the central core zone of KLNP making the high suitability zone very limited and this is a matter of serious concern," the study said.

Bakimchandra Oinam warned if such a situation persists then the natural habitat of Sangai at KLNP will be degraded beyond recovery.

"Three steps need to be taken to get back the natural habitat of Sangai," Oinam added.

They are intensive ex-situ conservation, search for a suitable area which has similar physiographic (landforms) and climatic conditions like KLNP or suitable climate parameters range predicted by the model as per current scenario; and demarcation of proper boundary along the eco-sensitive zone of KLNP to minimise anthropogenic pressures.

Dr AK Joshi, PCCF (Wild Life) & CWLW, Manipur commented, "Field observations show that the most suitable habitat for Sangai deer in Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP) is the central area of the park, specially towards the northern and south-western part of the park.

The present study corroborates this fact by showing that the central zone is a more suitable habitat zone of Sangai, as this zone is covered with thick phumdis that supports the weight of Sangai" .

The study also indicates that the habitat for Sangai deer in the northern part and north-eastern boundaries of KLNP is limited due to thinning of phumdis.

Thinning of phumdis in the peripheral zone is of serious concern, he remarked.

It is mainly because of the high-water level being maintained during the lean season and also due to the deteriorating water quality of the Loktak Lake.

The results shown in the study are a warning sign of the imminent dangers of the effects of climate change on the habitat of Sangai deer, Dr Joshi said.

The present study also suggests for finding alternate suitable sites for the survival of Sangai.

The suggestion that relocation of Sangai deer is essential is well appreciated but has to be considered keeping in view the interests of local communities living in the area, he added.

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