MANIPUR’S ANIMAL DIARY : DEER - Kh. Shamungou and T. Gyaneshori Devi

Manipur is bestowed with its pleasant climatic and topographical features supporting rich and unique forms of animals. Out of 22,327 sq km of state’s total area, 17418 sq km are under forest covers, which are characteristically of Himalayan type showing similar gradation from subtropical to temperate vegetation. The region is well within the Indo-Myanmar biological hotspot and it has the fauna characteristic of the Indo Himalayan region, the Malayan type over and above its own endemic species.

Manipur Deer :  

Deer belong to the family Cervidae (Order Artiodactyla), a group of animal whose males bear solid antlers that shed periodically. Manipur has a legacy of pride for having been the home of four species of fascinating deer-the Manipur brow-antlered deer, hog deer, sambar deer and barking deer. The Manipur brow-antlered deer is endemic to this region.

Manipur Brow-antlered Deer/Eld’s Deer of Manipur : 
The Manipur brow-antlered deer (Rucervus eldii eldii, McClleland 1842) lovingly called sangai (Sa, animal and ngai, in awaiting and looking at you) by the people of Manipur is a rare and critically endangered mammal. A rutting male (125cm) has graceful crown of ‘arc’ shaped antlers. The sangai in Manipur is taking its last refuge on the fringe of Loktak Lake (a Ramsar Site, 1990) in a 40 sq km Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP) along with hog deer (Axis porcinus), wild boar (Sus scrofa) and several birds. The important features of the KLNP are the presence of floating vegetation called phum or phumdi and three hillocks inside. The rests are waterbodies. Sangai was declared extinct in 1951, however, a small survivor of around 100 heads was discovered again in 1953 by E.P. Gee in Keibul Lamjao area and that has led to the creation of a sangai sanctuary in 1955 and later as a national park in 1977.  

Males in velvet - Photo: Shamungou

Three sub-species of the Eld’s deer-the Manipur’s sangai (Rucervus eldii eldii, McClleland 1842), Burma’s (Myanmar) thamin (Rucervus eldii thamin, Thomas 1918) and Thailand’s lamang (Rucervus eldii siamensis, Lyddeker 1915) are recognized across the south and Southeast Asia. A fourth sub-species called Rucervus eldii hainanus for a population of around 100 heads now in Hainan (China), is also suggested. The Manipur race of Eld’s deer is distinguished by its well developed hairy hind pasterns and smaller curvature of antlers. 

Currently, sangai is awarded as Endangered by IUCN, listed in Appendix I by CITES and included in Schedule I by WLPA. Today, around 200 heads of sangai are facing all round threats of habitat destruction, poaching and probably a genetic disorder too and if the current progress of threats continue, it may take two or three decades at the most, this endemic species to extinct. Therefore, it is not preferable to enclose the entire small population of sangai at one place under the fragile ecological conditions and in order to reduce the risks, efforts to establish off-side populations are suggested. Read more