Sangai-The
Dancing Deer of Manipur
An
animal found only in Manipur is the Sangai. Its common
English name is Manipur Brow-antlered Deer and the scientific
name, Cervus eldi eldi McClelland. It lives in the marshy
wetland in Keibul Lamjao. Its habitat is located in
the southern parts of the Loktak Lake, which is the
largest freshwater lake in Eastern India. It is also
one of the seven Ramsar sites of international importance.
The habitat of the Sangai is now protected as the Keibul
Lamjao National Park. The Sangai is the State animal
of Manipur, and is projected as the social and the cultural
identity of the State. In order to protect the animal
from poachers, people living around the Keibul Lamjao
National Park have formed local clubs and non-governmental
organisations and together they form a collective body
known as the Environmental Social Reformation and Sangai
Protection Forum, in short called as ESRSPF. Units of
the ESRSPF are spread out all across the lake area.
Flora Keibul
Lamjao consists of the unique 'phumdi' or floating marshes.
Eighty per cent of the flora is submerged and the vegetation
forms a 90-120 cm. thick cover on the water surface.
About half a century ago, the predominant plants used
to be tou (45 per cent), singut (25 per cent) and khoimom
(15 per cent). But the composition of the vegetation
has undergone rapid changes and the plant cover, at
present, is estimated to comprise of equal proportions
of hoop Leersia hexandra and sing kambong Zizania latifolia,
a protein-rich plant, often used as food (about 24 per
cent).
Mammals Some
very rare animals may be encountered in and around this
wilderness. The star attraction, of course, is the brow-antlered
deer Cervus eldi eldi, called sangai in the local Meitei
dialect. This particular subspecies of the Thamin deer
is also fondly called Manipur's dancing deer because
of its delicate gait as it negotiates its way along
the floating wetlands. Other species of deer seen here
include the hog deer, sambar and muntjac. One of the
most primitive primates, the slow loris occurs in scattered
pockets on the hills. Assamese and stump-tailed macaques
and the Hoolock gibbon are restricted mainly to the
western hills. The Rhesus monkey is found ubiquitously
around the park. The large Indian civet Viverra zibetha
and small Indian civet Viverricula indica, common otter
Lutra lutra and wild boar Sus scrofa are some of the
large mammals noted in the area. Extremely rare lesser
wild cats like the marbled cat and Temminck's golden
cat may be sighted occasionally. The Himalayan black
bear and the Malayan bear may also be seen foraging
for food.
Birdlife A
variety of rare birds occur in Keibul Lamjao and the
Loktak Lake. The avifauna consists primarily of the
smaller reed-dwelling species. Waterfowl, which were
unfailing winter migrants to the lake, are becoming
more rare because of the lack of open water surfaces.
The Hooded Crane may be seen in the Manipur valley.
The Black Eagle and the Shaheen Falcon are some of the
raptors seen here. The Eastern White Stork, Bamboo Partridge
and Green Peafowl are also found here. Some of the species
of hornbills found here include the Brownbacked Hornbill,
Rufousnecked Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill, the Pied Hornbill
and the Great Pied Hornbill.
Climate Meteorological
data are available only for Imphal. Here, mean annual
rainfall is 1220mm. Mean daily humidity is highest (81%)
in August and lowest (49%) in March. Maximum and minimum
temperatures are 34.4*C and 1.7*C, respectively. Frost
is common in December and January (Deb, 1960). |
