WWF team, Forest officials study Sangai alternative home
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 29 2014 :
A joint team of the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) and officials of the State Forest Department today made a field study on development of an alternative site for Sangai in addition to conducting a spot assessment of the existing condition of Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP) .
The WWF team was led by former Secretary, Ministry of Forest and Environment Dr MK Ranjit Sinha.
Notably, Ranjit Sinha was one of the officials who took part in the first Sangai head count carried out at KLNP in 1975 .
The other members of the visiting WWF team are WWF India CEO Ravi Singh, Divyabhanusish Chada and Dr Jaideep Bose.
They were joined by Chief Wildlife Warden PN Prasad, Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) Th Mohendra Pratap and Deputy Conservator of Forest (Park and Sanctuary) L Joykumar in conducting the field study.
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A second home for Sangai is being explored in view of the possibility of wiping out the entire Sangai population living in KLNP in case a deadly disease breaks out.
The joint team visited Chingthi, Laphupat Tera, Khordak and Nongmaikhong range.
They also visited Pumlen Pat and made a preliminary study whether the area can be developed as an alternative habitat of Sangai.
Dr MK Ranjit Sinha was of the opinion that Pumlen Pat would be best suited for development of an alternative habitat for Sangai.
The team held a meeting with experts and local club volunteers at the Keibul Lamjao National Park's IB.
The meeting discussed about the existing condition of KLNP and possible measures for its improvisation.
The Ministry of Power has given its consent to lowering the water level of Ithai Dam but the State Government has not been giving any comment on the matter so far.
The joint team would visit Dampi in Churachandpur district to study where the area can be developed as an alternative habitat of Sangai.
They would called upon the Forest and Environment Minister on December 1, informed a source.