‘Wildlife conservation preserves Manipur's identity’

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 7 : Conservation efforts not only save wildlife but also preserve and promote Manipur's identity and heritage, said Anurag Bajpai, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Head of Forest Force.
He said this during a workshop, organised as a part of the 70th Wildlife Week 2024 at Sangai Hall, Hotel Imphal today.
The 70th Wildlife Week celebration began on October 2 and it will conclude on October 8.
The workshop on "Wildlife Conservation Through Co-existence" was organised by the Wildlife Wing of the State Forest Department.
Addressing the workshop, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest said humans and wildlife are parts of the same ecosystem and should coexist.
The Forest Department alone can't conserve wildlife and forest. It requires the collective efforts of all stakeholders including NGOs, civil organisations and the public, Anurag said.
Manipur has many beautiful natural gifts--hills, rivers and lakes. The State has Loktak lake, the largest freshwater lake in North East India where a large number of migratory birds visit each year. Saving the Loktak Lake and its wildlife requires the assistance and cooperation of the people living in the surroundings, he said.
The Sangai, an endangered species of brow antlered deer, is only found in the world's only floating National Park, Keibul Lamjao National Park, he said.
Manipur's biodiversity is being threatened by deforestation and hunting of wildlife. Checking these anthropogenic activities and conserving biodiversity needs the concerted efforts of all stakeholders, Anurag added.
The Government of India has implemented many policies and programmes aimed at conserving wildlife and their ecosystems.
Conserving wildlife in Manipur not only saves the birds and animals. It also helps preserve and promote the State's identity and heritage, he added.
At the event, Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), Longjam Joykumar said the workshop focuses on identifying challenges being faced in conservation efforts taken up for 11 wildlife species.
The 11 species include Sangai, Nongin, Hoolock Gibbon, Hornbill and Amur Falcon. The workshop aims to identify the challenges and address them for better conservation, Joykumar said.
Wildlife activist and Member IUCN (Deer Spp) Dr Kh Samungou Singh, wildlife activist and photographer Sanasam Okendro Singh, DFO Churachandpur Esther Laltankim Serto, bird specialist Khumang Jugeshor Singh, Assistant Director BNHS Mumbai Dr Rajat Bhargava, wildlife activist and journalist Rajesh Salam, DFO Tamenglong Kharibam Hitler Singh, research scholar and wildlife activist AW Thotrinphy Shangh, MIMS Professor Ch Ibohal Meitei and Additional Director (Public Health) Health Services Dr Chambo Gonmei attended and spoke on wildlife in the technical session of the workshop.