IMPHAL, April 20 — Manipur is proud of her rich avi-fauna with Mrs Hume’s barred back pheasant (Syrmaticus humiae) and Blyth’s tragopan found in the state being quite spectacular. The Khaleej pheasant found in Manipur is a rich mixture of steely black and white. The Burmese peafowls and jungle fowls are the other long feathered pheasants found in Manipur. But of late, several rare bird species are gradually disappearing from Manipur due to negligence and inactivity of the authorities concerned. Illegal trade in rare birds goes on right under the nose of the law protectors. These activities continue unabated.
The white wood duck, pink headed duck, grey-leg goose, mallard brahminy duck, clucking teal, plover, hooded crane, brown headed gull, Avocat white ibis, glossy ibis, Indian shag, open bill stock, black necked stork and a host of other birds have become extremely rare in Manipur. Many of them are probably extinct from the State, officials of the State Forest and Environment department (wildlife wing) said.
Every winter, strange visitors, visit Loktak, the largest fresh water lake in eastern India, which occupies an area of 286 sq. km. and is located about 38 km from here. The visitors to this lake are brahmini duck, open bill stork, cattle egret, median egret, large egret, pintail, pond heron, Indian reef heroin, common coot, little grebe, spot bill duck, gadwall, grey heron, white breasted water hen, Indian moorhen, little egret, greater crested grebe, mallard, baikal teal, lesser whistling teal, wigeon, white eye pochard, shovellor, black necked stork, baer’s pochard, Indian purple coot, unidentified pochared, unidentified teal, unidentified duck, unidentified egret, unidentified seagull, common sandpiper, rosy or white pelican, lapwing unidentified, Blyth’s kingfisher, pied harrier, pale harrier, pied king fisher, grey wagtail, yellow headed wagtail, unidentified hawk, unidentified kite, unidentified eagle, broadbilled roller, shrike, pied wagtail, magpie robin, swallow, jungle babbler, bulbul, wrabler, myna, flying foxes, drongo and jungle crow.
Annually, the Manipur Association for Science and Society (MASS) and Global Science Club also conduct census exercises at Loktak. The Census - locals and migratory - started in 1996. Over 9000 birds were sighted at this lake in the recent census. These birds mainly feed at different areas of the Loktak particularly at Khumjem Patmang, Salam Heisnam Mamang, Toya Canal, Kumbi pat, Ungamel pat, Phubala, Lamyai Phumthak, Chinghau, Ningthoukhong, Potsanbam, Nachou, Nongmaikhong, Ngakrapat, Thingngom, Moirang Hiram Kachin, Birahari pat, Ngaten Mamei, Birahari Kha Chinghou, Phiral makhong, Melibi and Chinghou Nambol Sabi.
The reasons for dwindling wildlife are not far to seek. Human population explosion, rapid deforestation in habitat, destruction and indiscrimate hunting of wildlife with diverse and intense activities have threatened many species with extinction. Messages of conservation are yet to reach the interior areas where the people mostly tribals pride themselves as traditional hunters.