Sangeeta Angom
The study aims to assess the current status of Sangai in Keibul Lamjao National Park and threats to their conservation. This project also aims to impart conservation efforts through the local communities by integrating and sensitising them towards conservation of this species.
The Brow-antlered deer Rucervus eldii eldii (locally known as Sangai) population has been estimated to be less than 150 individuals in wild. This has led the IUCN to declare this as Endangered and Indian Wildlife Protection Act (IWPA) has accorded the highest protection status by declaring as Schedule I species. The Sangai’s survival is threatened mainly by lack of scientific information, habitat loss and poaching. The ecological information and conservation efforts on Sangai is still in infancy compared to detailed work and conservation attention carried out on other cervids elsewhere in the country. In 1953, Sangai was rediscovered by noted naturalist E. P Gee, the then Honorary Secretary Eastern region, Indian Board for Wildlife.
To ascertain the status of the animals, six heads were counted in 1959 and this became the beginning of conservation efforts of Sangai. The first aerial census was carried out by Ranjitsingh in 1975 who recorded the presence of 14 Sangai. Though the population had recovered from a meagre 14 to nearly 100 individuals now, the survival of these species is still not bright. The Sangai population is greatly threatened with two main reasons: habitat degradation and poaching.
The potential habitat has already been lost due to excessive habitat deterioration, continuous thinning and fragmentation. Local people are highly dependent on the park for vegetables collection, extraction of grasses, fodder for livestock, thatching material and fishing. Here, I propose to develop a long term research and conservation program focusing on the critically endangered Sangai.
This project is a first step in establishing the program. This project is designed to explore the demographic, distribution and conservation efforts through the participation of local communities by integrating traditional and scientific knowledge for the conservation of this species. Results of this project would attempt to ensure long term survival of Sangai by collecting information on distribution and abundance in the park and sensitizing local communities.