Post by Melanie on Jan 12, 2016 2:06:18 GMT
Manipur subspecies of the Eld's or Brow-antlered deer. Not seen between 1951 and 1971.
Imphal, Jan. 9: Union minister of state (independent charge) for environment, forests and climate change Prakash Javadekar today proposed a comprehensive national project for protection of sangai, the most-threatened deer species.
The minister, who arrived here yesterday, visited Keibul Lamjao National Park in Bishnupur district today.
Javadekar also said his ministry would fully support the state government's proposal for getting World Heritage Site tag for Keibul Lamjao.
He asked the park authorities to prepare a comprehensive national project for protection of sangai and the sanctuary and submit it to the Centre for consideration.
"Make a proposal for a comprehensive national project for protection of sangai and Keibul Lamjao National Park," he said, adding, "The Centre will also support the state government's move for getting a World Heritage Site tag for the park."
The minister toured the interiors of the park on a boat with state BJP leaders, officials of his ministry and those of the state forest department to see the condition of the sanctuary.
The BJP leaders said when Javadekar reached Pabot Ching, a small hillock in the middle of the park, he saw magnificent deer grazing from the top of the hillock.
"The Union minister expressed his desire to take up the project (for protection of sangai and the park) in the form of a partnership among the Centre, state park authorities and the villagers living around the park," BJP general secretary M. Ashnikumar Singh said.
Keibul Lamjao is the world's only floating wildlife sanctuary and the only natural habitat of the sangai.
The last census, carried out in 2013, put the sangai population inside the park at 204.
A British environmentalist had rediscovered the deer species in 1971 after it was declared extinct in 1951. The government declared it the state animal in 1972.
Javadekar also met members of the fishing community of Loktak lake and villagers around the park. He expressed happiness over the role of the local inhabitants in conserving the deer and in protecting the park.
"The role of the local inhabitants in conserving Loktak lake, the park and the sangai is very important. Without their partnership, the conservation work will be impossible," the minister told a group of villagers and fishermen at Thanga, a nearby village.
Javadekar was of the opinion that Loktak lake could be a destination for eco-tourism.
He said it was very important to find an alternative livelihood for the fishing community. "The Centre will consider finding an alternative livelihood for the fishermen by a joint venture of the ministry of forests, DoNER, tourism, culture and rural development," Singh quoted the minister as saying.
Javadekar left Imphal for New Delhi later in the afternoon.
www.telegraphindia.com/1160110/jsp/northeast/story_63063.jsp#.VpRecVngrmc
Imphal, Jan. 9: Union minister of state (independent charge) for environment, forests and climate change Prakash Javadekar today proposed a comprehensive national project for protection of sangai, the most-threatened deer species.
The minister, who arrived here yesterday, visited Keibul Lamjao National Park in Bishnupur district today.
Javadekar also said his ministry would fully support the state government's proposal for getting World Heritage Site tag for Keibul Lamjao.
He asked the park authorities to prepare a comprehensive national project for protection of sangai and the sanctuary and submit it to the Centre for consideration.
"Make a proposal for a comprehensive national project for protection of sangai and Keibul Lamjao National Park," he said, adding, "The Centre will also support the state government's move for getting a World Heritage Site tag for the park."
The minister toured the interiors of the park on a boat with state BJP leaders, officials of his ministry and those of the state forest department to see the condition of the sanctuary.
The BJP leaders said when Javadekar reached Pabot Ching, a small hillock in the middle of the park, he saw magnificent deer grazing from the top of the hillock.
"The Union minister expressed his desire to take up the project (for protection of sangai and the park) in the form of a partnership among the Centre, state park authorities and the villagers living around the park," BJP general secretary M. Ashnikumar Singh said.
Keibul Lamjao is the world's only floating wildlife sanctuary and the only natural habitat of the sangai.
The last census, carried out in 2013, put the sangai population inside the park at 204.
A British environmentalist had rediscovered the deer species in 1971 after it was declared extinct in 1951. The government declared it the state animal in 1972.
Javadekar also met members of the fishing community of Loktak lake and villagers around the park. He expressed happiness over the role of the local inhabitants in conserving the deer and in protecting the park.
"The role of the local inhabitants in conserving Loktak lake, the park and the sangai is very important. Without their partnership, the conservation work will be impossible," the minister told a group of villagers and fishermen at Thanga, a nearby village.
Javadekar was of the opinion that Loktak lake could be a destination for eco-tourism.
He said it was very important to find an alternative livelihood for the fishing community. "The Centre will consider finding an alternative livelihood for the fishermen by a joint venture of the ministry of forests, DoNER, tourism, culture and rural development," Singh quoted the minister as saying.
Javadekar left Imphal for New Delhi later in the afternoon.
www.telegraphindia.com/1160110/jsp/northeast/story_63063.jsp#.VpRecVngrmc
