Fate of Sangais at second home hangs in balance

IMPHAL, April 10: The fate of the rare Sangai (Cervus eldi eldi) at the Captive Breeding Centre at Meitei Langol which is the second home of the Brow Antlered Deer lies grim due to the illegal habitation by private individuals near the home. The area earmarked for the captive centre by the Manipur Zoological Garden inside the Langol Reserve Forest is 50 hectares while the exact habitat of the deer is 1.5 acre. The 50 ha area is meant for expansion of activities of the Iroisemba Zoological Garden and the Captive Breeding Centre. However, the human habitation springing up around the 1.5 acre area is disturbing the existence of the Sangai and its captive breeding. Presently the captive breeding centre houses nine deer out of which just one is a female. However, the privacy of the deer which are kept mainly for breeding purposes have been disturbed and there is fear that the deer do not carry out mating properly. Moreover, the meek animals are being made prey by dogs and cats. Zoo authorities said the Sangais even die due to shocks. The close encounter with human is also a cause for serious concern as they have become weak genetically due to the long span of inter-breeding. Zoo authorities has in February this year wrote to the Directorate of Land Settlement to evict the encroachers who had taken up construction works within the periphery of 20 metres from the home. However, no positive action has been seen from the side of the Settlement authorities. The Zoo officials said the home, which earlier had two female deer, lost one after it was killed by the male deer some months back. Presently the home has eight males including, a fawn and one female. Most of the deer get wounded during the mating season in March-April as the number of females had decreased. Zoo officials are trying to set free some of the male at the Keibul Lamjao Park while acquiring some females for the home. However, capturing of the Sangai from the Keibul Lamjao, which had been declared a national park by the Government needs a clearance from the Central Zoo Authority and transportation of the animal is itself a problem. The Zoo authority is also trying to exchange some deer among the captive centre, Keibul Lamjao and other homes outside the State to cure the genetic disparities of the captive breed. It maybe recalled that the 2000 survey conducted by the Wild Life Wing of the Forest Department had given the number of Sangais at the Keibul Lamjao at 162. There is one male and one female at the Iroisemba Zoological Garden.