The Hindu : Rare animals, birds facing extinction in N.E

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 14, 2002

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Other States - Manipur

Rare animals, birds facing extinction in N.E

By Our Correspondent

IMPHAL APRIL 13. The unbridled export of animal parts, coupled with slaughter for consumption of meat has brought most of the rare animals and birds to the brink of extinction.

The rare brow-antlered deer, locally known as Sangai, is found only in Manipur. Its population is believed to be less than 70 now in its natural habitat, the Keibul Lamjao national park, about 40 km from here.

The Loktak is the biggest natural lake in the entire eastern India. Hundreds of thousands of birds used to come here from different countries every season. However, after the commissioning of the 105 MW Loktak hydrel project by the NHPC, the lake has become shallow since water is drained away round the clock. There is heavy siltage, and apart from the presence of fishermen, there is further human intrusion such as those who settle on the floating biomass in the lake. Besides, professional bird catchers have been operating with impunity all these years. Surveys conducted by experts, bird lovers and journalists show that while many rare birds are not seen nowadays, the number of the winged migratory friends itself has come down drastically.

From the early 1970s the National Highway No. 39, originating at Moreh adjacent to Myanmar, had been reduced to a drug route and Manipur is the conduit of heroin for most of the eastern and north-eastern States. As the border trade was legalised in 1995, highly enterprising international smugglers of animal parts are in cohort with the powerful poachers.

The one-horned rhinoceros found in Kaziranga in Assam has been threatened since armed poachers have been killing them. The horn is believed to contain many healthy ingredients apart from its aphrodisiac powers. There is heavy demand for the horns in China and other South-East Asian countries where costly medicines are manufactured using them. A horn is brought from Assam to Manipur via Nagaland without arousing any suspicion. It is then taken to Moreh. Once it is taken to Namphalong, in the Myanmarese market just across the international border, a rhino horn fetches over Rs. 10 lakhs. Other limbs of the rhinoceros are also thus smuggled out. After the translocation of some rhinos, there is a sharp increase in its population.

While venison is a delicacy, the horn and other vital parts of the brow antlered deer are smuggled to foreign countries fetching huge prices. It is the major reason behind the fast dwindling population of this variety of deer in its natural habitat. Wild life lovers had suggested translocation of this deer to wildlife sanctuaries in Assam in general and Pabitra sanctuary in particular. However, local people objected.

Domesticated cattle also spread diseases since a few thousands of them enter the park daily for grazing. Masquerading as fishermen, poachers sneak into the 40 sq.km Keibul Lamjao national park to slaughter the friendly ``dancing deer''. Prices for the animal's horn and vital parts are exceptionally high since this deer is not available anywhere else in the world.

Pangolin was available in plenty in the nine mountains surrounding Manipur. But, today, its population has dwindled. In the tribal villages, one can see in several houses pangolin scales hung in the drawing rooms as decoration. A kg of pangolin scales is sold at Rs. 4,000 at Moreh. However, it becomes as costly as Rs.10,000 once it reaches China or Thailand. It is also taken to Nepal via Assam. It is used in the manufacture of costly medicines.

Otters are caught using guns or traps. The meat is devoured by poachers. A whole skin is sold at Rs.10,000 or so at Moreh.

The dried bear bile has heavy demand in South-East Asian countries. The hills in Manipur have a considerable population of many varieties of bear. Some members of the Friends of Animals society recently rescued two bear cubs brought to the Pallel market by two tribal poachers. The poachers told the activists that they were carrying piglets. But when the activists opened the burlap bag, two gambolling bear cubs tumbled out. Every now and then Imphal-based journalists have been coming across sale of rare birds and animals in some hill districts. A few decades ago, the north-eastern States were the proud natural habitats of many exotic and majestic animals and beautiful birds. But, today, they have become almost extinct. The migratory birds are on sale near the sanctuaries in Assam while venison and the meat of wild animals are on open sale in Nagaland, many parts of Assam and Manipur without any intervention from the law-enforcing agencies.

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Rare animals, birds facing extinction in N.E