A sangai

Imphal, June 27: Manipur forests and environment minister Th. Debendra Singh today informed the Assembly that the sangai population has increased inside Keibul Lamjao National Park.

Responding to a question from S. Bira Singh of the Congress, Debendra Singh said the latest census carried out on March 13 this year put the sangai population at 204. Of these, 90 were stags, 86 hinds and 28 fawns.

The census was carried out after a gap of 10 years. The last census carried out in 2003 recorded a sangai population of 180 in the park. Forest officials conducted a survey in 2006 inside the park. The findings of this survey, however, were not published as forest officials were of the opinion that the figures recorded during the survey were not correct.

Covering 40 square km, Keibul Lamjao is the only floating park in the world and an integral part of the 246 square km Loktak lake, which spreads across three valley districts — Imphal West, Bishnupur and Thoubal.

This is the only remaining natural habitat of the deer species and sangai is concentrated in an area of 26 square km.

The officials who participated in the census held in March this year had found the size of the deer has decreased because of inbreeding and they are more prone to diseases.

Debendra Singh said to improve the situation in the park the forest department was making efforts for habitat improvement by planting vegetation which is food of the animals.

The minister said the forest department was helped by volunteers of the locality and holding awareness programmes to protect the animals.

“It is because of the help and contribution by the people residing around the park that incidents of poaching have come down considerably,” Debendra Singh said.

The minister admitted that tourists had rare chances of seeing the animal from the two watchtowers as the park is covered with high plants and tourists are not allowed to enter the park.

He, however, agreed to a suggestion that the tourists would be advised to visit the park when sangai come out of hiding.

Responding to a report from Opposition Trinamul Congress member I. Ibohalbi Singh that villagers cited a tiger recently on the fringe of the park, Debendra Singh assured the House that steps would be taken to keep animals, which could pose a threat to sangai, out of the park.

Bira Singh expressed concern that people residing around the park were extracting foods of sangai for commercial purposes.

The minister said the forest department would take up the issue seriously.