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Sangai: Manipur State Animal
The Manipur Brow-antlered deer, Rucervus
eldii eldii, lovingly called Sangai
(animal awaiting and looking at you) by the people of Manipur is the flagship
Manipur State Animal (ref. Manipur State Govt. notification dated the 21st
march,1989
Notification
). The important reasons are:
1. Sangai’s vernacular name: The name
Sangai was coined from the peculiar
posture and behaviour of the deer while running. The deer, particularly the
males, by nature, even during fright-fight run stops occasionally and look back
as if he is waiting for his spouse or someone else and hence the name –
Sangai (Sa, animal and ngai, in awaiting and looking
at you).
2. Distribution:
The Sangai is found nowhere in the
world but in Manipur. The 40 sq km area of the floating morass known as
phumdi in the Keibul Lamjao National
Park (KLNP), Manipur, is the only home of this vanishing deer.
3. Cultural
Heritage: Sangai is a glittering
gem in the rich cultural heritage of Kangleipak (Manipur). It is said that a
legendary hero Kadeng Thangjahanba of
Moirang once captured a gravid Sangai from Torbung Lamjao for a loving gift to
his beloved Tonu Laijinglembi. But as
ill luck would have it, he found his beloved to be at the palace of the king as
his spouse and, as such, all his hopes were shattered. In desperation, the hero
released the deer free in the wild of Keibul Lamjao and from that time onwards
the place became the home of Sangai.
4. Royal boat and
Sangai: In a folklore of Kangleipak, a prince called
Pudangkoi ofLuwang clan had, by the grace of
a divine entity, transformed himself into a deer which has later on called
Sangai. Further, there were references
of Sangai head with crown of antlers,
being decorated on the head of royal boat called
Hiyang Hiren.
5. IUCN Status:
Sangai is Critically Endangered. Today, the deer has so far thrown up a
gloomy population of under 100 heads in the wild of KLNP. Their existence is
vulnerable ecologically, and in the event of a political expediency or a natural
calamity, their last abode along with the remnant and isolated population could
be destroyed or reduced both of them to a miserable condition beyond revival.
Acknowledge: 1. Envis Centre Manipur thanks to Dr. KH. Shamungou(Rtd.
Reader & Head, Department of Zoology, D.M. College of Science, Manipur) for his
valuable technical contribution in this article.For further details,please
communicate to his Email:
drshamungou@gmail.com
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