Ngaril Leina can also be kept as decorative fish
Source: Hueiyen News Service / N Sanajaoba Meetei
Imphal, November 12 2011:
One of the deadliest indigenous species of fish found in Manipur locally known as Ngaril Leina can also be kept as a decorative fish according to an experiment carried out by the Manipur Science and Technology Council (MASTEC) recently.
The experiment carried out by the MASTEC was primarily to bring about a change in the general attitude of the people of the state where almost all the fish species found in the state are reared for the purpose of consumption, which ultimately proved successful.
The Ngaril Leina has been kept in the Manipur Science Aquarium at DM College of Commerce by the MASTEC for the last six months as a decorative object, exclaimed Laishram Nilakumar, Fishery officer of the Manipur Science Aquarium, talking to Hueiyen Lanpao.
The Ngaril Leina was brought to the Manipur Science Aquarium by a villager after he captured it and was worshiping it, believing that it was God.
The species which was at first very fierce is now quite tame.
But since the only species is a male, there is still no possibility of breeding.
Nevertheless, it can still be used as a decorative purpose, he said.
Apart from the Ngaril Leina there are various other species including Pengba, Meetei Ngamu, Ngamu Bogra, Nailon Ngamu, Lanmeithanbi, Mukanga, Fabounga, Ngakha Meingangbi, Tunghanbi, Ngaton,Poklaobi and Ngaril etc in the aquarium.
Official sources revealed that among other varieties of fish imported outside the country as decorative fishes, 85% of the fishes are from the North East states.
The indigenous fishes found in the state can also be used for decorative purpose but they have to be experimented first and see if they can be fed with artificial feeds, whether they can dwell in still water instead of running water they are used to.
But unfortunately these experiments have not been carried out in the state by the concern authority till date.
MASTEC will shortly take up the initiative, further reveals the source.
The source further revealed that most of the fishes found in the hills can be used for decorative purposes.
But the traditional way of capturing these fishes needs to be stopped, if at all they are to be treated as decorative items, and a scientific method should be applied.