Campaign to conserve Sangai

In a bid to create a mass awareness, a campaign for the endangered Sangai, Manipur Brow Antlered Deer will be held on Saturday at the ongoing Manipur Sangai Festival in Imphal. This public awareness campaign is a joint initiative by the North East Centre for Environmental Education and Research (NECEER) and the Youth Street News (YSN) in association with the Forest Department, Govt. of Manipur.

Over the time, Sangai, also known as the dancing deer of Manipur, has become an endangered species and is on the verge of extinction. It is very unfortunate that only about 200 of them are left in the wild. The decrease in the population of this rare species is due to extensive human activities like hunting, poaching and habited destruction among others.

This public awareness programme on Sangai will surely highlight the above hardships in the conservation of Manipur Eld’s deer.

Asserting his view, Khuraijam Jibankumar Singh, Managing Trustee, NECEER, said: “Carrying forth NECEER's National Save Sangai Campaign started in 2008, NECEER joined hands with YSN in organising this campaign to create mass impact on saving Sangai with the support of Manipur Forest Department. We have been also organising Worldwide Save Loktak Lake Campaign 2010-2020 since 2010 in order to conserve the wetland as well as the Keibul Lamjao National Park, which is part of the lake and also the last refuge of the critically endangered Sangai.”

“The basic motive behind this campaign is to awaken public conscience in the conservation of Sangai, the pride of Manipur. As we can’t afford to lose our pride, we need to save Sangai and its habitat Keibul Lamjao National Park, the only floating park in the world,” cited Mehnaz Nasreen, Founder, Youth Street News and Managing Trustee, Youth Street Foundation.

Let’s help ensure the future of Sangai and Keibul Lamnjao National Park.