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State deptt of Forest & Environment needs serious effort to protect wildlife
By RK Birjit Singh
The “Leimatak Maru Nature Camp”, jointly organized by the Manipur Association for Science and Society and the Generation De New Image, Ningthoukhong in the year 1997 clearly indicated that the "Leimatak Maru'' area of Henglep constituency in Churachandpur district is
the home of the seriously endangered wild life species, like Golden langur Leopard, Leopard cat, Slow lorish, Sloth bear and Rustly spotted cat which have been included in the list of the Red Data Book of the
IUCN's (International Union of Conservation of Nature) Species Survival Commission.
The above mentioned species are also included in the schedule I of the rare and endangered species and they are afforded legal protection. The Golden langur which was believed to be extinct from Manipur has been recently re-discovered by the team when they found the skull of the mammal at Phoipi village, 27 kilometers of tracking distance from Leimatak, though in restricted habitats and in small population. The area covers up to Sadu Kabui village. Due to serious disturbance in their habitat they migrate to a marginal habitat where it may succumb to predation.
This is for the second time that the endangered mammal, Slow lorish (Nycticebus coucang) came out from the thick wood & marshy area of Loktak project power channel of Ningthoukhong where it took shelter as a marginal habitat after coming down from the hill.
In a number of occasion, species like Leopard, Rusty spotted cat. Pangolin had been caught and killed by the local villagers before the volunteers could
intervene in the situation. This time fortunately, the members of the
GENIM have started saving the endangered mammal and the animal is now in a healthy condition at Ningthoukhong. The Loktak proiect power channel site of Ningthoukhong Awang Khunou has now become a site
where diverse type of animals taking shelter after migrating from the hills of Henglep constituency, due to serious disturbance to their habitat.
The State Government can preserve and protect the area as an isolated island habitat. A trial can be experimented here. This could have great relevance to the development of conservation strategies. In the present context, the" State Govt. must enforce - the present existing Wild Life Protection Act, 1972, section 9 (Schedule: l-V) strictly and must
study critically the knowledge about habits arid habitats of the endangered species which is essential in evolving appropriate conservation strategies for their protection and creating awareness about Wild Life conservation to develop a sense of appreciation,
respect and love of nature.
If we let our Wild Life vanish slowly and steadily as we go along making scientific and technological advancements, our own survival will be in peril.
(Courtesy: The Sangai Express).
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