Seven Iconic Wild Animals Found In Manipur And Where To See Them

Manipur, the Northeast Indian state, is lush, beautiful, and biodiverse. It is part of a biodiversity hotspot and, hence, is home to many rare and threatened wildlife species. Although Manipur is also less travelled, it has great potential for exploration. Its wilds are home to animals like sangai, slow loris, sun bears, pangolins, clouded leopards, hundreds of species of birds and butterflies, and much more. Here are seven iconic wild animals found in Manipur:

Mrs. Hume's Pheasant

Mrs. Hume's Pheasant. Image credit: _SYT2216-黑颈长尾雉-birdnet via Flickr.com.

Manipur's state bird, Mrs. Hume's Pheasant, is simply gorgeous. Photographers dream of capturing this bird on their cameras, but spotting it is not easy. In Manipur, the bird is known as Nongin and is found in forested habitats. For a long time, several tribes in the state hunted the bird to add its feathers to their elaborate headgear. Now, however, most have given up hunting like the Jessami villagers living along Manipur's border with Myanmar. The villagers have now turned from hunting wildlife to hosting wildlife photographers and birders in their village. When the Chairman of the Village Council, Nizote Mekrisuh, learned that Mrs. Hume's Pheasant is a threatened species and that photographers travel great distances in Bhutan to photograph it. He, being a very wise man, understood that there was a way to protect both the bird and help his people. So, he, along with others, worked to make the Jessami village an ecotourism hotspot for all who wanted to observe Manipur's state bird and other rare species in the forests around Jessami. More such initiatives are needed across the state to protect this very unique and lovely bird.

Sangai

A sangai male with calf. Image credit: Sonampalli via Wikimedia Commons.

Manipur is the world's only place where this endangered deer is found. It is a subspecies of the Eld's deer and is the state animal of Manipur. You can spot this deer in the Keibul Lamjao National Park of Manipur, which is also as unique as its inhabitants. It is the world's only floating national park located on the Loktak Lake. The sangai is also a major symbol of the local Meitei culture, and the species is heavily featured in local folklore and legends. Killing it is considered unpardonable as it is regarded as the connection between humans and nature. 

Chinese Pangolin

A Chinese pangolin. Image credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters via Wikimedia Commons.

Critically endangered, the Chinese pangolin has lost more than 80% of its population over the past couple of decades, primarily due to poaching for the illegal wildlife trade. Pangolin scales are used in traditional medicines prepared in China and some Southeast Asian nations. Pangolin meat is also consumed in many places across the species' range. Manipur still continues to have a significant population of this highly threatened species. However, they are also hunted there by the locals for domestic meat consumption and also for sale in the black market across the border with Myanmar. Recently, however, good news came in as the efforts of conservation organisations like the Wildlife Trust of India bore fruit. Tribals residing in the three districts of Ukhrul, Senapati, and Kamjong in Manipur pledged not to hunt pangolins. 

Mainland Serow

A mainland serow. Image credit: Melanochromis via Wikimedia Commons.

The mainland serow is a goat-like or antelope-like animal. These animals usually live solitary lives or in small groups. It is a threatened species, labelled as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Serows live in forested habitats, often on rocky and steep slopes with coniferous or broadleaf forest cover. Widespread poaching for meat, horns, and other body parts are one of the biggest threats to the species. Habitat destruction is also another major threat. In Manipur, serows, known as sabeng locally, were once found in large numbers but have a diminishing population now. So, conservationists are working hard to protect the species in the state by promoting community-driven conservation. The Lenglong Village is a great place to spot serows in Manipur, and the village is being developed as a Model Serow Village in the state.

Amur Falcon

An Amur falcon. Image credit: Amudha HariHaran via Flickr.com.

Amur falcons, the world's longest-travelling migratory birds, arrive in Manipur in large numbers around mid-October. They fly from their breeding grounds in the Far East, northern China, and Mongolia, across India to Africa. In India, amur falcons stay for around a couple of months before proceeding on their journey. The Tamenglong town in Manipur and bordering areas is one of the best places to witness the congregation of these birds in Manipur. Some years back, there was a massive campaign to stop the hunting of Amur falcons in northeast India by the locals. The campaign was hugely successful, and now states like Manipur and Nagaland are hosting Amur falcon festivals to popularise the need to protect these bird guests in India. Recently, two Amur falcons have also been tagged in Manipur by the Wildlife Trust of India to track their migratory movement and record other vital data related to these birds.

Manipur Bush Rat

Illustration of the endangered Manipur bush rat.

The Manipur bush rat is a rodent species endemic to Northeast India. It is also an Endangered species that is threatened with habitat loss and persecution by humans. It occurs in tropical evergreen and deciduous forests at altitudes ranging from 900 to 1,300 m.

Bengal Slow Loris

Bengal slow loris with a 6-month-old baby. 

A rare and endangered species, the Bengal slow loris lives in tropical rainforests and is nocturnal and arboreal. It is an efficient pollinating and seed-dispersing agent and is prey for many species. The slow loris is an omnivore and the world's only venomous primate. In Manipur, the slow loris has scattered distribution. According to news reports, it has been spotted in the Ukhrul and Jiribam districts of the state. The slow loris suffers from habitat loss, but capture and killing for the illegal pet trade and traditional medicine preparation have led to the removal of many members of the species from the wild.