Loktak Lake, Manipur Brow Antlered Deer (Rucervus Eldii Eldii) 1-2
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os tesy: Goldin Quadr e Cour Pictur on Wetland Ecosystems including Inland Wetlands Sarovar Saurabh Vol. 15(4), 2019 (A Centre of Excellence under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of India) Anaikatty, Coimbatore - 641 108 (INDIA) on Wetland Ecosystems including Inland Wetlands Vol. 15(4), 2019 ISSN: 0972-3153 Contents Dr. Goldin Quadros Coordinator, ENVIS, SACON Page 1. Flagship species of Ramsar Site - Loktak Lake, Manipur Brow Antlered Deer (Rucervus eldii eldii) 1-2 Mr. N. Mohamed Ibrahim 2. News articles on Sangai 3-5 3. News article on wetlands 6-7 4. A report on Wildlife Week 2019 8-9 5. Abstracts from published literature 10 Views expressed in the articles of this newsletter are of the authors only. From the Editors' Desk We welcome original research and popular articles, reviews, reports, The wetland conservation has gained a momentum and relevance in recent research highlights, notes, news, snippets, etc., related to the months with the Government of India announcing the program of thematic area of the ENVIS Resource Partner for publication in conserving "100 wetlands in 100 days". The objective of the program is to ‘Sarovar Saurabh the ENVIS Newsletter on Wetland Ecosystems integrate sustainable management of wetlands in the country. The MoEFCC with the help of knowledge partners and managers has identified including Inland Wetlands’. wetlands; prepared the brief documents that include the geophysical The articles and other information should be neatly typed in double characteristics in addition to biodiversity; evaluated the Health status and an space not exceeding five pages. The figures, graphs/drawings should integrated wetland management plan for each of the individual wetland be of good quality and clarity. Photographs should be of minimum based on the threats and strengths of the wetland. 300 dpi resolution. References should be limited and cited in the text The country is also the host to the Thirteenth Meeting of the Conference of by name and year. Council of Science editors style may be referred to the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of for listing references at the end. Wild Animals (CMS COP13) to be held from 15 to 22 February, 2020 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. India in its commitment to conservation hopes to Email your articles in MS-Word 2003 or 2007 format to sacon- have several interventions made to conserve wetlands as habitats at this [email protected] or [email protected] international forum. As a curtain raiser the BNHS hosted the international Send the articles in hard copy by post to: conference on "Wetlands and Migratory birds of the Asian flyways" during 18 to 22 November, 2019. Going by the initiatives the country is The ENVIS Co-ordinator, undertaking we can expect better days for the wetlands of our country. Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) In this issue we have collated information on the Loktak lake a Ramsar site Anaikatty P.O., Coimbatore - 641 108, Tamil Nadu from Manipur and the Sangai deer the flagship species of the Loktak. We Ph: 0422-2203100, 129 will appreciate in receiving inputs to the Newsletter and thank everyone who Website: www.saconenvis.nic.in; www.sacon.in has contributed to this Newsletter and request your continued support. Editor Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Flagship species Order: Artiodactyla of Ramsar Site ‐ Family: Cervidae Loktak Lake, Manipur Genus: Rucervus Brow Antlered Deer Conservation status: (Rucervus eldii eldii) ykumar Singh Endangered (IUCN Red List category o L. J and criteria) © . A. Hussain S Goldin Quadros © © Sangai also called brow-antlered deer or the dancing deer is the state animal of Manipur. Sangai was believed to be almost extinct by 1950, but six individuals were spotted in 1953, and has been listed as an endangered species by the IUCN. It is a medium-sized deer, with uniquely distinctive antlers measuring 100 -110 cm in length, with extremely long brow tine, which form the main beam. It derives the name brow-antlered deer from the forward protruding beam that appears to come out from the eyebrow. It has a short tail and the rump patch is not pronounced. The sexes are moderately dimorphic in body size and weight and have a dark reddish brown to gray colored coat, dark brownish black nose, lips and mouth, which turns paler in summer. In the wild the maximum lifespan of the Sangai is around 10 years. The females fawn all year round, the young are spotted at birth, but these spots fade as the animal grows. The hooves of the deer are adapted to walk on the phumdis, and their walk appears like hops over floating foliage, and is hence also called the 'Dancing Deer'. Sangai deer, found only in the northeastern state of Manipur, India lives in the marshy wetland in the Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP), the only floating park in the world. The KLNP is an integral part of the Loktak Lake and is characterized by many floating decomposed plant materials locally called phumdis. Loktak Lake (24°26'N - 93°49'E.) was declared as a Ramsar site on 23rd March, 1990 (Site number: 463), the biggest natural wetland in the North-eastern region of India, is a large expanse of water on the West of the river Imphal. The catchment area of the lake is about 980 sp. kms. Run-off from this catchment is drained into the lake mainly through seven streams which originate primarily in the northern and western flanks of the lake. Loktak Lake is an ancient lake and plays an important role in the economy of the Manipur State. Without the lake, the valley would be subjected to high floods during monsoon and drought during the dry season. Thick floating mats of weeds covered with soil called 'phumdis' are a characteristic feature of this lake. Invasion of lake area by water hyacinth has created severe problems resulting in deterioration of the lake ecosystem. The term phumdis refers to a collection of heterogeneous mass of vegetation, soil, and organic SACON ENVIS Newsletter - Sarovar Saurabh Vol.15(4), 2019. ISSN: 0972-3153 1 matter at various stages of decomposition. Resembling miniature islands, these phumdis are found in various forms, floating on the lake. The important plants of the phumdis include Eichhornia crassipes, Phragmites karka, Oryza sativa, Zizania latifolia, Cynodon spp., Limnophila spp., Sagittaria spp., Saccharum latifolium, Erianthus pucerus, Erianthus ravennae, Leersia hexandra, Carex spp., Sangai is known to feed on a variety of aquatic plants, grasses, and shoots from the phumdis The lake is home to 233 species of aquatic plants, more than 100 species of birds, and 425 species of animals, including the Indian python and sambhar. KeibulLamjao National Park: The park, which was initially declared as a Sanctuary in 1966, was subsequently declared a National Park in 1977. The habitat of the Sangai is now protected as the KeibulLamjao National Park. The National Park is located between 24°27' N and 24°31' N latitude and 93°53' E and 93°55' E longitudes , covering an area of 40 km and the home range of the Sangai in the park is confined to 15sq. km. The population of the Sangais are in danger of losing their habitat as the phumdis are no longer able to carry their weight. This is due to a multitude of factors-invasive plant species have taken over the vegetation in the phumdis, farming practices are encroaching on the park territory, natural drainage of the old vegetation has been hampered, as well as poaching and illegal fishing. The lake provides livelihood for as many as 4,000 fishermen and their families, who live along its banks in small huts. There's also India's only floating elementary school nearby, which was established in 2017. A. Hussain Only the largest phumdi was dedicated as a national park to protect the tesy: S endangered sangai, of which only about 200 remain in the wild What makes the Loktak Lake even more special is the KeibulLamjao Picture Cour National Park located at the south western part of the lake. It is the world's only floating national park and is home to the endangered Manipuri brow-antlered deer, Sangai. References: Goldin Quadros, Hemambika, B., Julffia Begam, A., Srinivasan, A. and Azeez, P. A. (2015) Glimpses to the Bodiversity of Ramsar Sites in India, ENVIS Publication. pp.90 Vivek Menon (2014) Indian Mammals - A Field Guide, Hachette Book Publishing India Pvt. Ltd. pp.528 Internet Source: https://www.thebetterindia.com/38244/loktak-lake-manipur-floating-national-park/ https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/explore/story/69967/keibul-lamjao-national-park-the- worlds-only-floating-national-park http://epao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=travel.Introduction_to_Manipur.Sangai_Related.Sangai_The _brow_antlered_deer_of_Manipur_By_Budha_Kamei 2 SACON ENVIS Newsletter - Sarovar Saurabh Vol.15(3), 2019. ISSN: 0972-3153 News Articles on Sangai Deer Manipur: Keibul Lamjao National Park to remain closed during Sangai breeding season The Indian Express - August 8, 2019 This is the first time the park will be closed since it was declared as a national park in 1977. The move, according to the department is an attempt to recover the dwindling population of the endangered species. Keibul Lamjao National Park which is the home to elusive and endangered Sangai, brow-antlered deer, will be closed for tourists during the deer breeding season, declared the Forest Department of Manipur. This is the first time the park will be closed since it was declared as a national park in 1977. The move, according to the department is an attempt to recover the dwindling population of the endangered species. Although there is no provision to close Keibul Lamjao National during breeding, it has become very essential exercise for preserving the state animal, whose population stands at 255 according to 2018 census, said Rebika Chanu, deputy conservator of Forests, Park and Sanctuary.