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This region is also
home to the Thamin deer or the dancing deer of Manipur, the Hog deer,
the Sambar and the Muntiac. In remote hilly pockets live the Slow
Lorris. Stump tailed Macaques and Hoolock Gibbons jump around the
western hills while the Rhesus Monkey reigns all over the park.
Also can be seen
the civet, common otter, marbled cat and occasional glimpses can be had
of the Himalayan black and Malayan bear. There are a variety of birds –
mainly the reed dwelling variety. The waterfowl is a migrant visitor
but recently is becoming rare because of shrinking water space. The
Hooded Crane, the Black Eagle and Shaheen Falcon are other residents of
this region.
They share the
sanctuary with the Eastern White Stork, Bamboo Partridge, Green
Peafowl, Brownbacked, Rufousnecked, Wreathed, Pied and Great Pied
Hornbills. The Manipur Zoo near Imphal is a vast garden hosting rare
species like the Sangai.
Dwindling
Wildlife:
There is grave concern about the dwindling wild life in the state – it
is all part of the illegal trade in animals for meat, skins and organs.
This coupled with deforestation and priority to human rights without
thinking of the rights of dumb animals is cause for grave concern for
the dying planet. Monkey and deer meat are still easily available for
few rupees. There are less than seventy Sangai deer in the state.
Once the Java
Rhinoceros was common but today it is extinct. Others that have
vanished are the leopard, wild dog, Burmese Peafowl, owl etc. One can
hardly hear the song of the Koel at dawn or the trilling of Hari
Nonglang at sunset. Even cattle egrets, crow and sparrows are no long
common viewing objects.
It is man that destroys and it is man crossing political borders that
can save – here lies the hope.
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