|
MRS HUME’S PHEASANT “Nong-in” – A flagship bird of
Manipur
MRS HUME’S PHEASANT “Nong-in” – A flagship bird of
Manipur
Syrmaticus humiae humiae
(NONGYEIN / NOEININGKHOI / LOEININGKHOI)
Size :
90cm (Male), 60cm (Female)
Colour : Most ornamental game bird in existence.
Male - Brightly coloured chestnut and blue ,white banding scapulars and wings, barred tail;
Female- Less colourful
The Hume's Pheasant, Syrmaticus humiae,
also known as Mrs Hume's barredback Pheasant or bar-tailed pheasant, is a large
(male 90 cm and female 60 cm) and long-tailed () forest pheasant(ref. Manipur State Govt.
notification dated the 21st march,1989
Notification
).
Although closely resembling Elliot's Pheasant (), a male of this
species has a grayish brown head, bare red facial skin round its eyes, yellowish
bill, brownish orange iris,, glossy steel-blue feathers on its throat, neck and
upper breast; deep chestnut-brown plumage on its abdomen and flanks, and three
conspicuous white bars on the upper wings. Besides, it has black and chestnut
bars all across its long tail in silvery-grey colour. The female is the chestnut
brown bird with whitish throat, buff-colour belly and white-tipped tail.
Range :
The Hume's Pheasant is endemic in the regions of northeastern
India,
Myanmar, Thailand and China. Two subspecies are named from these places; one
is Syrmaticus humiae humiae in the
hills of Manipur, Mizoram through western Myanmar south to the river Irrawady, while the other,
Syrmaticus humiae burmanicus finds its
habitat in the forests of south western China,
northern and eastern Myanmar
and extreme northern part of
Thailand.
Nong-in Legend:
The Hume's Pheasant is lovingly called
Loining-koi or Noining-koi or
Nong-in, in Manipuri or Wa-ru in Lamkang or Tikaren in Tangkhul. The bird is, indeed,
very colourful and attractive. It usually resides near rivers with rocky
hillsides abundant with scrub forests. The people of Manipur had the belief that
the eternal soul of an orphan or a loving couple dying from hunger and thirst
transformed themselves into an elegant-looking pair of birds to be known as
Nong-in. In fact, this bird earned its
name 'Nong-in' because of its ability
of knowing changes in weather conditions or cycle of cloud in the sky (Nong- meaning rain,
in - meaning to follow: one knowing
the rain/weather cycle). Admired by lyricists and naturalists of all ages,
Nong-in is often described as the most
talented lover of song, dance and moonlight.
Distribution :
Although, the exact population-size and status remain virtually unknown, today,
Nong-in in Manipur appears very rare
and vanishing. Its past range covers Ukhrul, Valley of Barak River and its
tributaries, mouth of Thoubal River etc between 900-1800 metres. Here the bird
was frequently seen along the open dry evergreen, mixed pine-broadleaf forests
on the steep rocky hillsides, interrupted by scrub and grassy plains. Roosts
were mainly located along ridges, and in other relatively open areas. They often
spend time by feeding and resting in pair scenes of rejoicing in mud-bathing or
sunbathing continues hours together or till eventide. When a sudden danger or
change of weather was sensed, the frenzy birds crawled behind the rock-clefts
with noisy calls. When a pair from a cleft-shelter started calling, another pair
nearby responded, and thus within a short period the whole air is filled with a
chord of their calls. Trawlers took advantages of it for locating the presence
of the bird.
In October 2005, a 60-70 aged
Tamenglongian revealed his past experiences of Nong-in, locally known as
Azuina/Thangding in
Rongmei (these names are not certain)
in small flocks mostly one male with three-four females near brooks with rocky
hillsides and plenty of sand deposits along the course. They came out mostly
during early morning and after a feeding all through the morning, they perched
and took rest. Frequently a bird or so lays over its one wing and the other wing
and legs, stretching out in one direction, which may be a form of complete rest
in tranquil environment.
They perched and took rest. Frequently a bird or so lays over its one wing and
the other wing and legs, stretching out in one direction, which may be a form of
complete rest in tranquil environment.
Threats :
During the recent past, habitat modification and overexploitation in the form of
deforestation and extension of developmental programmes are the main courses for
complete decimation of wild denizens. In Manipur the bird's habitat has been
destroyed and severely fragmented by extensive shifting cultivation and
uncontrolled annual forest fires. Besides, a more direct threat is posed by the
practices of poaching and snaring of the bird continued for years; and these,
especially, as the range of the species overlaps with hill tribes, and in spite
of having several preventive laws and regulations, their hunting lifestyles are
still rampaging. The very fact that Manipur is home to Hume's pheasant and the
bird has attained an emblematic status to represent state is not very well known
to them. A highly adhesive gum prepared from certain locally available herbs is
often used for capturing the bird. Such preparations may be left on the ground
or smeared on logs near the water places where the bird frequents. As a result,
not only the Nong-in, the other
pheasants of the state have become endangered and they are waiting for a gory
death to face. Though, fortunately, no pheasant species has yet disappeared
(Green Peafowl) from the state's soil, continuing pressures pounce upon them and
their peculiar habitat-critical to their survival-will be fatal, if the practice
continues.
Conservation Concern:
In the history of wildlife conservation in Manipur, concern for
Sangai protection has been addressed
often more seriously than any of the wild denizens including
Nong-in. The centrality of the deer in
the psyche of local people is manifested through folklore, legends and religion,
and boosted by the current status of the deer. In fact, one can find
Sangai images in many public places,
travel agencies, hotels/restaurants, industrial products etc.
The Concerns for the animal has led to the creation of Keibul Lamjao
Sanctuary/National Park (1954/1977) as well as wide spread of media coverage and
launching of special programmes across the country and abroad. 'Species of the
Year' by Nandankanan Zoo, Orissa, 'Our Sangai' by Sri Chamarajendra Zoological
Garden, Mysore (1992), a slogan campaign 'Conservation of your Sangai is now our
Business also' by British Airways (1992), 'Ningthem' (mascot) by the 5th
National Game, Manipur (1999), to name a few.
The species and cultural status of Nong-in
is not inferior to that of Sangai.
Both are flagship species of the state.
Nong-in also gained the status of Manipur State Bird in the same year as
Sangai did in 1989. However, no action, so far, for
Nong-in's conservation in-situ or
ex-situ has taken up. Some critics decry this recognition of
Nong-in as state's insignia as a
preoccupation of an elitist of bird and animal lobby. But, it seems, the steps
taken by the authority simply aims essentially at protecting natural wealth and
ecological security of an endangered species. In this context, therefore, the
range areas of the species in Manipur should be identified; the core area of
such flagship species is to keep as 'inviolate' areas free from incompatible
human uses. But the current question is: where lies
Nong-in's 'inviolate' area. In view of
this, every effort, whatsoever, for whereabouts of the species should not be
left unturned and fast step vigil for its discovery must be prioritized.
The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (Manipur Rules, 1974) cannot reach the hills
of Manipur. Wildlife matter is yet to be be prioritized, actually as it should
be. A conservation model, exclusively or otherwise, does not appear to be
working in the hills, despite the advantages of more stretches of forests, with
relatively low human population density, and far less developmental pressures.
To cite an example, many forests in places of Tamenglong are yet in a tranquil
world untouched by the destructive cynicism of technological progresses.
Perhaps, it is the only left-out place in the state where battles between human
greed and wilderness were being marginally fought.
Two reasons are important. Firstly, the Manipur Land Revenue Act is not enforced
yet in the hills and as such social dominance and control over of land vests
largely with local communities and secondly, hunting and poaching were going on
the rampage as traditional rights in these regions. Under such circumstances,
the authority is a largely passive bystander witnessing the massive overkill and
consumption of wildlife. A conservation model strictly ensuring the hill peoples
of their possible rights towards the lands and wildlife, providing them a stake
in the sustainability of biodiversity which is crumbling into non-biodegradable
would be the need of the hour.
Courtesy: Dr. Kh. Shamungou
Shamungou@rediffmail.com
|