Wildlife cannot be manufactured, it’s for sustaining the Planet

Dr Naorem Munal
Contd from previous issue
Any harm to the wilderness can have cascading effects, disrupting food chains, altering nutrient cycles, and destabilising entire pristine ecosystems.
India is one of the only 17 countries that have the distinction of being awarded the title 'Megadiverse' for being home to a vast diversity of flora and fauna. The country blessed with 5 hot spots has an incredible variety of plants and animals. India owns 7.8% of the world’s biodiversity, though we share only 2.4% of the global geographical area and harboring 20% of world population and 15% of cattle population. More than 500 species of mammals, 1,220 species of birds, 1,600 species of reptiles and amphibians and 57,000 species of insects populate in this subcontinent. India owns 75% of the world's wild tiger population, 60% of Asian elephants, 80% of the one-horned rhinoceros and the entire remaining po-pulation of the Asiatic lion.
But the rich and fascinating wildlife brings itself with several threats as well. To make the wildlife conservation plans successful, the country has 1102 - Protected areas including 106 National parks, 573 Wildlife sanctuaries, 33 Elephant reserves, 55 Tiger reserves, 115 Conservation reserves and 220 Community reserves covering 1,73,629 sq. km which is 5.43% of geographical area. We also have 85 Ramsar sites of wetland importance.   
The present status of wildlife in Manipur which has two hotspots –Hima-layan and Indo-Burma is very alarming. The hill districts where maximum of our wildlife florist have the tradition of hunting. In most of the hill areas, due to lack of awareness, wanton killing of wildlife continue. Meats of even scheduled animals are found sometime sold in the open markets. Authorities are still issuing gun licenses which are mainly meant for hunting. Thousands of acres of wildlife habitats are destroyed every year from indiscriminate felling, jhoom culti- vation and poppy cultivation. Thus 46% people resi- ding in hills which comprises 90% of State’s geo- graphical area should take the proactive role to conserve the wildlife in Manipur.
This year, due to the ongoing communal crisis, a vast area of forests might have again lost. The wild animals that once roamed abundantly in the state are now almost negligible. The state’s changing climate such as scanty rainfall, rising temperature, cyclones, landslides, floods, diseases and pollution have also given unbearable impacts to our wildlife.  
As to preserve wildlife, a family plan trip to wildlife areas may be arranged where kids can easily get the important aspects of wildlife in their own life. The wildlife conservation may also endeavors with the campaigns such as seminars, lectures, awareness programs, workshops, public meetings, slogan, spot painting & essay writing competitions among the youths and students.
In order to conserve our rich wildlife, Manipur has in-situ and ex-situ conservation of Protected Area Network over about 3.7% of our geographical areas. The state government has created one National Park viz. the Keibul Lamjao National Park and Wildlife Sanctuaries viz. Khong-jaingamba Ching Wildlife Sanctuary, Yangoupokpi-Lokchao Wildlife Sanc- tuary, Bunning Wildlife Sanctuary, Dzuko Valley, Jiri-Makru Wildlife Sanctuary, Kailam Wildlife Sanc- tuary, Shiroy Community Forest and Zeilad Lake Sanctuary. Wildlife has inter-connectedness with natureto maintain our ecological balance. Therefore, it should be our primary responsibility to protect and conserve the wildlife.