Imphal: In a significant boost to biodiversity conservation, the Indian bison (Bos gaurus) has been captured on camera traps for the first time in Manipur’s Ukhrul district, which shares its eastern border with Myanmar. The sighting confirms the presence of the endangered species in the district’s hilly ecosystem after several decades.
Forest officials in Manipur said the Indian bison is listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with habitat loss, hunting and fragmentation posing major threats to its survival in the region.
The animal was documented through camera-trap evidence in Nongman village and surrounding areas with the support of local villagers. The exercise was carried out by Environmental Force at the Grass Root Level (ENFOGAL), a Ukhrul-based registered non-governmental organisation, as part of its wildlife diversity documentation project.
As part of the initiative, ENFOGAL installed Artificial Intelligence-enabled equipment, including camera traps, binoculars and research tools, at suitable locations in Ukhrul and Kamjong districts, which are predominantly inhabited by the Tangkhul Naga community.
Modern AI-enabled camera traps are increasingly being used to monitor bison movement, with systems such as Trail Guard AI enabling real-time detection. The technology provides images critical for tracking population size, mapping habitats and assessing overall ecosystem health.
ENFOGAL project director Patrick Shangh said the organisation has begun strengthening awareness and conservation efforts in Nongman and neighbouring villages, noting that only a few bison populations are believed to remain in the area. He added that protecting and conserving the species would be a top priority.
Historically, the Indian bison had a sparse presence in Manipur, largely confined to dense forest tracts and hilly regions along the eastern border near Myanmar. While part of the broader Northeast Indian ecosystem, its population has sharply declined due to poaching, habitat fragmentation and competition with domestic livestock.
The domesticated form of the species, known as Gayal or Mithun (Bos frontalis), believed to have originated through hybridisation of the wild gaur, has a long-established presence in Manipur, particularly in border areas adjoining Nagaland and Myanmar.