Imphal: A two-day state-level workshop in Manipur on “Conservation of Sangai, its Environment and Sustainable Development” has called for the protection and preservation of the endangered brow-antlered deer, locally called the Sangai, and its habitats.
The workshop, sponsored by the Department of Forests and the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change and organised by the Society for Sangai and Nature Conservation (SSNC) Keibul Lamjao in association with BRIC-Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Imphal, and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, Uttarakhand, concluded at Chingmei Awang Leikai, Keibul Lamjao, a part of Loktak Lake, on Sunday.
Haobijam Hemeshwar, president of SSNC Keibul Lamjao, stated that the Sangai, a unique and rare species found exclusively in Manipur’s Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP), has witnessed a worrying decline in its population over the years, raising concerns among conservationists.
The deer has been classified as ‘endangered’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
The thickness and stability of the phumdis (floating biomass) are major hurdles for the Sangai in KLNP, as they require thick, stable mats (at least 1m) to support their weight.
However, habitat degradation, siltation from the Ithai Barrage, and climate change are causing phumdis to become thinner, reducing suitable habitat and threatening the deer’s survival.
Additionally, the latest reports on the Sangai deer in KLNP show conflicting but concerning trends. One expert source from late 2023 cited a low of 64 individuals, a significant drop from previous years, such as 76 in 2019.
Older estimates from 2016 showed a peak of around 260, highlighting a precarious situation caused by habitat loss and inbreeding.