Fund search for pony conservation plan
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 28 2008: As part of the ongoing effort to sustain survival of the endangered manipuri pony, Central authorities and foreign countries/international funding agencies are being approached to develop a heritage park wherein requisite facilities for the conservation of the indigenous ponies can be established.

According to functionaries of Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association, the multi-facility pony conservation park is being planned at the 30 acre Lamphelpat fodder farm of the Veterinary Department.

Ponies feeding on hay at the fodder farm of the Veterinary Department at Lamphelpat

Conveying that State Government would be urged to provide additional land at the Lamphelpat site, the Association's officials also detailed that the heritage park would have such facilities like grazing space, an international standard polo ground, race course, park and garden.

Disclosing that population of the indigenous ponies have declined to less that 1000, they also expressed confidence that ponies currently roaming at the streets like stray animals could be controlled to a substantial level as the park would also have an additional space for their shelter.

Conceding that the number of Manipuri ponies in the last many years have gone down to the verge of extinction, they also informed of a policy of the Government of India that declares an animal species as 'threatened' in case the population figure is less than 10,000 .

Citing illegal export of ponies to the neighbouring Myanmar as one of the principal factors for the decline in the number, the officials mentioned of separate fund allocation in the 13th finance commission for development and popularising Polo Tourism.

Moreover, the Association has been receiving pony maintenance fund from the State's Veterinary Department for the past three years.

It is also informed that patron members comprising of top State government officials and members of the civil society had been contributing Rs 100 every month for administrative as well as maintenance through the Association.