Vanishing wildlife of Manipur

Iboyaima Laithangbam *

The apocryphal anecdote one heard as a child was that there were elephants at Kokchai. I had vainly tried to establish the veracity of this story. But then I do not know whether there is any village in this name even. However it must be accepted by one and all that most of the wild animals and exotic birds had been hunted to extinction and posterity will never see them.

This is the heavy price we have to pay for population explosion, human intrusion to the their serene natural habitat. It is no exaggeration or myth since we get almost daily delicious pork of wild boars, venison, smoked monkey meat, trussed wild chickens, various birds--both indigenous and migratory.

The Manipuri edition of the Hueiyen Lanpao had exposed with photographic evidence how some hotels in Chandel are displaying the affordable price lists of curried and barbecued meats of the wild animals and mallards. As there is nothing illegal or objectionable to the free slaughter of wild animals and catching of birds in Manipur the delicious dishes ought to be publicised prominently to lure tourists from India and abroad.

In Senapati district some lensmen had photographically captured the excruciating scenes of mincing the carcass of deer, wild boar with razor blade sharp cleavers. Some beautiful mountain goats were captured alive for sale. In Tamenglong district migratory birds were caught in large numbers.

The deep fried or smoked birds priced at peanuts are on free sale. In Churachandpur district smoked monkey meat is on sale at many places; the splayed fingers of dead monkeys are clearly visible. Pork of wild boars and venison are on sale at Chandel. In Thoubal district one teal was available at Rs 1 in Thoubal district in early 1960s. However it is now around Rs 300 due to Rupee devaluation and heavy demand of the birds whose flock is dwindling.

Recently some journalists came across a tribal hunter near Tengnoupal. He had just come out of the game trial and was trudging along the gravelled highway briskly without caring two hoots for the deer carcass he was piggypacking.

One small calibre rifle was also strapped on his shoulder. He was going to hitch a ride to Moreh where the venison would be sold like hot cakes. In 1958-60 our family had stayed at Kangpokpi. The hospital peon cum watchman was a skilled hunter. Most of the nights he was away in the mountains hunting deer and other animals.

Whenever he returned with a deer carcass his wife would speak to my father in the Kuki dialect. On hearing those talks I used to will that our pound of flesh be given which invariably did. It was a time we had become fed up with delicious venison.

Illustrated authoritative books say that most parts of Manipur had abounded in wildlife. It must be true that Khamba had caught tigers at a place where the INA complex stands today. But it is very deplorable that long time back a number of species had become extinct in Manipur. Wild fires, unfettered loggings, rampant deforestations had sounded the death knell to many species.

As no attempt is made for their population distribution through government flagship programmes these animals will never seen again. Pregnant hinds which were found loitering at the Langol mountain were mercilessly slain. Various rodents which abounded there are also said have gone scarce.

Unlike the civilized countries no one is lifting a finger for saving the wild animals and birds. This does not come as a complete surprise. There was no remonstration when the illiterate villagers were propelled by the scheming political upstarts to bash ip the skeleton staff of the wildlife wing of the forest department.

The villagers parroted their political masters to say that human lives are more valuable than that of sangai and that the national park should be converted to paddy fields. The staff whose personal effects were incinerated were bullied and pushed about by the agitating villagers and powerful poachers.

There was respite only when some MR troopers were garrisoned there. The villagers and poachers were cut to size. However it was ephemeral in the sense that the troopers were recalled saying that they were needed in counter insurgency operations and guarding the MLAs. The emasculated staff are back to a square one.

The population of the sangai--180 according to the 2003 census-- must have dwindled alarmingly. Poaching, gun battles, other activities inimical to the transquility and congenial atmosphere of a national park must have taxed on the timid and wobbly deer.

Illegal loggings, felling of grown up trees for making charcoal and the construction of bridges, furniture, houses, granaries, shops, kiosks and fencings have bereft the valley and mountains of greenery. It had naturally sounded the death knell of the wild animals and the winged friends.

Our grand children will never see most of the species even in the Zoological garden, Iroishemba. Compared to the national parks at Kaziranga and Manas the Keibul Lamjao is a mere zoo cage, that too not a safe one.

Keibul Lamjao will fast go the Kokchai way. But who cares ?