Keibul Lamjao National Park
Encyclopedia
The Keibul Lamjao National Park is a national park
in the Bishnupur district
of the state of Manipur
in India. It is 40 square kilometre in area, the only floating park in the world, located in North East India, and an integral part of Loktak Lake
.
The national park is characterized by many floating decomposed plant materials locally called phumdi
s. To preserve the natural refuge of the endangered Manipur Eld's Deer
or Brow-antlered Deer (Cervus eldi eldi), or Sangai
also called the Dancing Deer, listed as an endangered specie by IUCN, the park which was initially declared as a Sanctuary
in 1966, was subsequently declared as National Park in 1977 through a gazette notification. The Act has generated local support and public awareness.
that are called Cervus eldii thamin and Cervus eldii siamensis and also in Cambodia
, China, Laos
, Thailand, Vietnam
and Hianan island). It has a pride of place in the folklore and culture of the Manipur state and is the national animal of the state. From a small herd of 14 deer in 1975, its population was reportedly 155 in 1995.
with floating mass of vegetation (created by accrual of organic garbage and biomass
with soil particles that has been thickened into a solid form called phumdi
s, at the south–eastern side of the Loktak Lake, which has been declared a Ramsar site. Two third's to three fourth’s of the total park area is formed by phumdis. A water way through the park provides year round access by boats plying through the Loktak Lake, to the Pabot Hill in the north. The reserve area of the park which was 4000 ha (9,884.2 acre) in March 1997 was reduced to 2160 ha (5,337.5 acre) in April 1988, under pressure from the local villagers. The swamp encompasses three hills, namely, Pabot, Toya and Chingjao that provide a refuge for the large mammals during the monsoon
season. The distinctive nature of the park is that it is “too deep to be marsh
, too shallow to be a lake”.
s who claim ownership rights.
The size of the Park varies with the seasons as it is formed of phumdis (morass of organic matter
). The peripheral areas of the lake are grounded to the bed of the lake during the dry season but get almost substantially submerged for a few days during the monsoon season. It emerges and floats to the surface fully a few days later, separating from the ground; the depth of the phumdi varies from 1 ft (0.3048 m) to 4 ft (1.2 m) and during this period the animals in the park move to higher hilly areas. About twenty percent of its thickness floats on the lake, above the surface, which supports the weight of large mammal
s.
Weather
Temperatures vary from a maximum of 34.4 °C (93.9 °F) in summer to a minimum of 1.7 °C (35.1 °F)in winter. Humidity
was a recorded high of 81 per cent in August with a minimum of 49 per cent in March.
The park, primarily composed of moist semi–evergreen forests, has a rich amalgam of aquatic
, wetland
and terrestrial ecosystem
. The grass land structure of the park is divided into three zones.
) (Ishing kambong), Saccharum munja (Khoimom), S. bengalensis, Eiranthus procerus (Singnang), Discorea bulbifera (Phumha), Cynodon dactylon
(Tinthou), Alpinia galangal (pullei) and Eichhornia crossipes (Kabokang). Hedychium coronarium
(Loklei), Nelumbo nucifera
(Thambal), Phragmites
Karka (Tou) & 100 other species have also been reported.
Some of the above listed flora had been recorded in two types of phumdis namely, the phumdi ataoba (floating) and the phumdi aruppa (sinking); reeds
, grasses, and other plants growing on a mat of dead and decaying vegetation floating on the lake surface form the ataoba, while Phumdi aruppa has mats of vegetation which have sunk to the bottom of the lake and support a rich emergent growth of reeds and grasses. In a 1960 estimate, the phumdi vegetation had been structured into 45% Phragmites karka, 25% Erianthus ravennae (elephant grass
), 15% Saccharum munja, 5% S. latifolium, 5% Alpinia allughas and 2% Saccharum procerum and 3% other species, including Zizania latifolia; Zizania latifolia is the plant much relished by the Sangai deer. Eichhornia crassipes was a recent specie in the open water areas of the swamp in the midst of Polygonum
(Buckwheat) and Trapa (Water caltrop or Boiled water chestnut). The three hills surrounding the Park are now denuded of most of the vegetation.
The Mammals reported are the Hog deer
(C. porcinus), Wild boar (Sus scrota)., Large Indian Civet
s (Viverra civetta, Viverricula indica), common otter ( Lutra lutra), fox
, jungle cat
, golden cat
, Bay bamboo rat
, musk shrew, common shrew
, flying fox and Sambar (Cervus unicolor). Amongst other vertebrates found in the National Park are fish
es including Channa
striatus, Channa
punctatus, Cyprinus carpio, Wallago attu
and Puntius sophore (Pool barb), Amphibian
s and Reptile
s including Keel back Tortoise
, Viper
, Krait, Cobra
, Water cobra, krait (banded) Bungarus fasciatus
, Asian rat snake (Beauty rat snake
), python, Russel's viper (Daboia
), checkered garter snake and Common Lizard (Viviparous Lizard). Python molurus, an endangered species is found in the park.
species. Some of them are East Himalayan pied Kingfisher
, Black kite
, lesser sky-lark
, Northern Hill Myna
, Burmese Pied Myna, North Indian black Drongo
s, Lesser eastern jungle crow
, Yellow headed wagtail
, Spotbill duck, Blue-winged teal
, Ruddy Shell duck, Threatened Hooded crane
, Burmese sarus Sarus Crane
, Indian white breasted water hen and Crimson-breasted pied wood pecker.
measures suggested relate to development and implementation of a management plan giving priority to long term conservation, monitoring the condition of habitat
and to take timely corrective measures by enforcing strict protection of core areas, particularly with reference to the water level due to the Loktak Hydro Electric Power Project. Some of the measures suggested and under implementation are elaborated as a) to provide effective protection, b) developing and maintaining high places with adequate protection and food material to provide protection to the animals in case of flash flood
, c) increasing area under phumdis in the park, d) preventing theft of phumdis and flow or part of phumdis towards northern side, e)stopping completely the collection of firewood, food and fodder, f) creating an environment
in which local people volunteer as natural custodian of Sangai and other animals in the park, g) to encourage ecotourism
and nature education, h) to undertake, aid, promote and co–ordinate research works, i) capacity building, training, awareness and extension activities, j) launching packaging and publicity campaign and j) propagating ethnic information, exhibition and soforth.
Conservation measures implemented
The measures that have been implemented by the Forest Department of the Manipur Government are the following.
, the capital of Manipur. By road it is 53 km (32.9 mi) from Imphal and 522 km (324.4 mi) from Guwahati
(Assam
) on the National Highway No. 53. Public and private transport ply on these roads.
The nearest rail head is at Dimapur
on the broad gauge
line of the North Eastern Railways, which is 215 km (133.6 mi) from Imphal by road. Jiribam
is also a railhead on the Manipur border, which is 225 km (139.8 mi) from Imphal
Daily air service is available to Imphal from major cities such as Calcutta, Delhi
, Guwahati
and Mumbai
.
Basic accommodation of a forest rest house without boarding facilities is available at Phubala and Sendra islands inside the park and at Moirang
town 10 km (6.2 mi) away from the park. Staying at Imphal which has better hotel facilities is a preferred option.
Visit to the park is ideal between 0600 and 1000 hrs in the morning and 1530 and 1800 hrs in the afternoon, when the Sangai deer comes out to feed in herds. A boat trip along the labyrinthine boat routes passing through colourful water plants would be a good way to see the park. An adventurous trip would be to take a walk through the park but the phumdi is not a firm ground. Manipur Tourism Department arranges conducted day tours to the Loktak Lake
and the Keibul Lamjao Park.
Manipur is considered a sensitive border state. Foreigners entering Manipur (including foreign citizens born in Manipur) must possess a Restricted Area Permit, which can be obtained from the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office in the "metros" (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai) or certain other state government offices. Permits are valid for only 10 days, and visitors must travel only on tours arranged by authorised travel agents, in groups of four. Furthermore, visitors may come to Imphal only by air and are not permitted to travel outside the capital. Restricted Area Permits (RAPs) for visiting Manipur are also valid for entry to Keibul Lamjao National Park.
Contact Assistant Conservator of Forests, Keibul Lamjao National Park, BPO Kha-Thimungei, Manipur Or The Director of Tourism (Hotel Imphal Complex), Near Raj Bhavan, Imphal (Tel: 0385-224603 / 220802 / 222705) for further information.
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
in the Bishnupur district
Bishnupur District
Bishnupur district is the district of Manipur state in northeastern India with the smallest area.-Geography:Bishnupur town is the administrative headquarters of the district. Other major towns in this district are: Nambol, Moirang and Kumbi.-Demographics:...
of the state of Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
in India. It is 40 square kilometre in area, the only floating park in the world, located in North East India, and an integral part of Loktak Lake
Loktak Lake
Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in India, also called the only Floating lake in the world due to the floating phumdis on it, is located near Moirang in Manipur state, India. The etymology of Loktak is Lok = "stream" and tak = "the end"...
.
The national park is characterized by many floating decomposed plant materials locally called phumdi
Phumdi
Phumdis are a series of floating islands, exclusive to the Loktak Lake in Manipur state, in northeastern India. They cover a substantial part of the lake area and are heterogeneous masses of vegetation, soil and organic matter, in different stages of decay. The largest single mass of phumdi is in...
s. To preserve the natural refuge of the endangered Manipur Eld's Deer
Eld's Deer
Eld's Deer , also known as the Thamin or Brow-antlered Deer, is an endangered species of deer indigenous to southeastern Asia. The species was first discovered by westerners in Manipur in India in 1839. The original scientific name Cervus eldi was coined in 1844 in honour of Lt. Percy Eld – a...
or Brow-antlered Deer (Cervus eldi eldi), or Sangai
Sangai
The Sangai is an endemic, rare and endangered Brow-antlered deer found only in Manipur, India. Its common English name is Manipur Brow-antlered Deer and the scientific name, Rucervus eldi eldi McClelland. It lives in the marshy wetland in Keibul Lamjao about 45 km from Imphal...
also called the Dancing Deer, listed as an endangered specie by IUCN, the park which was initially declared as a Sanctuary
Sanctuary
A sanctuary is any place of safety. They may be categorized into human and non-human .- Religious sanctuary :A religious sanctuary can be a sacred place , or a consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.- Sanctuary as a sacred place :#Sanctuary as a sacred place:#:In...
in 1966, was subsequently declared as National Park in 1977 through a gazette notification. The Act has generated local support and public awareness.
History
The Brow-antlered deer, which was first discovered in Manipur in 1839 and named Cervus eldi eldi in 1844 in honour of Lt. Percy Eld – a British officer, was reported an extinct species in 1951. It was re–discovered in the Keibul Lamjao Park area by the environmentalist and photographer E.P.Gee, which necessitated declaring this reserve park area as a national park to protect and conserve the deer now called Eld's Deer's subspecies Brow-antlered Deer (Cervus eldi eldi) or Sangai in Manipuri language (to distinguish it from the other two sub species found in Burma and ThailandThailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
that are called Cervus eldii thamin and Cervus eldii siamensis and also in Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, China, Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
, Thailand, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
and Hianan island). It has a pride of place in the folklore and culture of the Manipur state and is the national animal of the state. From a small herd of 14 deer in 1975, its population was reportedly 155 in 1995.
Geography and topography
The park is a swampSwamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
with floating mass of vegetation (created by accrual of organic garbage and biomass
Biomass
Biomass, as a renewable energy source, is biological material from living, or recently living organisms. As an energy source, biomass can either be used directly, or converted into other energy products such as biofuel....
with soil particles that has been thickened into a solid form called phumdi
Phumdi
Phumdis are a series of floating islands, exclusive to the Loktak Lake in Manipur state, in northeastern India. They cover a substantial part of the lake area and are heterogeneous masses of vegetation, soil and organic matter, in different stages of decay. The largest single mass of phumdi is in...
s, at the south–eastern side of the Loktak Lake, which has been declared a Ramsar site. Two third's to three fourth’s of the total park area is formed by phumdis. A water way through the park provides year round access by boats plying through the Loktak Lake, to the Pabot Hill in the north. The reserve area of the park which was 4000 ha (9,884.2 acre) in March 1997 was reduced to 2160 ha (5,337.5 acre) in April 1988, under pressure from the local villagers. The swamp encompasses three hills, namely, Pabot, Toya and Chingjao that provide a refuge for the large mammals during the monsoon
Monsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
season. The distinctive nature of the park is that it is “too deep to be marsh
Marsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
, too shallow to be a lake”.
Ownership rights
While the area on the periphery of the park is privately owned, the park itself is predominantly state owned and the remaining areas are divided between the tribal groups of the Thang, Brel and Maril tribeTribe
A tribe, viewed historically or developmentally, consists of a social group existing before the development of, or outside of, states.Many anthropologists use the term tribal society to refer to societies organized largely on the basis of kinship, especially corporate descent groups .Some theorists...
s who claim ownership rights.
Hydrologic features
Hydro–meteorological feature of the area is marked by the dominance of the Indian tropical monsoon with an average annual rainfall of 1183 mm (46.6 in) with July and August as the wettest months and February and March as the driest.The size of the Park varies with the seasons as it is formed of phumdis (morass of organic matter
Organic matter
Organic matter is matter that has come from a once-living organism; is capable of decay, or the product of decay; or is composed of organic compounds...
). The peripheral areas of the lake are grounded to the bed of the lake during the dry season but get almost substantially submerged for a few days during the monsoon season. It emerges and floats to the surface fully a few days later, separating from the ground; the depth of the phumdi varies from 1 ft (0.3048 m) to 4 ft (1.2 m) and during this period the animals in the park move to higher hilly areas. About twenty percent of its thickness floats on the lake, above the surface, which supports the weight of large mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
s.
Weather
Temperatures vary from a maximum of 34.4 °C (93.9 °F) in summer to a minimum of 1.7 °C (35.1 °F)in winter. Humidity
Humidity
Humidity is a term for the amount of water vapor in the air, and can refer to any one of several measurements of humidity. Formally, humid air is not "moist air" but a mixture of water vapor and other constituents of air, and humidity is defined in terms of the water content of this mixture,...
was a recorded high of 81 per cent in August with a minimum of 49 per cent in March.
Flora and fauna
Aquatic ecosystem
An aquatic ecosystem is an ecosystem in a body of water. Communities of organisms that are dependent on each other and on their environment live in aquatic ecosystems. The two main types of aquatic ecosystems are marine ecosystems and freshwater ecosystems....
, wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
and terrestrial ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
. The grass land structure of the park is divided into three zones.
Aquatic flora
Aquatic flora recorded in the park consisted of Zizania latifolia (Wild RiceWild rice
Wild rice is four species of grasses forming the genus Zizania, and the grain which can be harvested from them. The grain was historically gathered and eaten in both North America and China...
) (Ishing kambong), Saccharum munja (Khoimom), S. bengalensis, Eiranthus procerus (Singnang), Discorea bulbifera (Phumha), Cynodon dactylon
Cynodon dactylon
Cynodon dactylon , also known as Dūrvā Grass, Bermuda Grass, Dubo, Dog's Tooth Grass, Bahama Grass, Devil's Grass, Couch Grass, Indian Doab, Arugampul, Grama, and Scutch Grass, is a grass native to north and east Africa, Asia and Australia and southern Europe...
(Tinthou), Alpinia galangal (pullei) and Eichhornia crossipes (Kabokang). Hedychium coronarium
Hedychium coronarium
The White ginger lily is originally from the Himalayas region of Nepal and India where it is known as dolan champa दोलन चम्पा in Hindi, দোলনচাঁপা in Bengali, takhellei angouba in Manipuri, Sontakka in Marathi, suruli sugandhi in Kannada and Kalyana sauganthikam in Malayalam.In Brazil it is very...
(Loklei), Nelumbo nucifera
Nelumbo nucifera
Nelumbo nucifera, known by a number of names including Indian Lotus, Sacred Lotus, Bean of India, or simply Lotus, is a plant in the monogeneric family Nelumbonaceae...
(Thambal), Phragmites
Phragmites
Phragmites, the Common reed, is a large perennial grass found in wetlands throughout temperate and tropical regions of the world. Phragmites australis is sometimes regarded as the sole species of the genus Phragmites, though some botanists divide Phragmites australis into three or four species...
Karka (Tou) & 100 other species have also been reported.
Some of the above listed flora had been recorded in two types of phumdis namely, the phumdi ataoba (floating) and the phumdi aruppa (sinking); reeds
Reed bed
Reed beds are natural habitats found in floodplains, waterlogged depressions andestuaries. Reed beds are part of a succession from young reed colonising open water or wet ground through a gradation of increasingly dry ground...
, grasses, and other plants growing on a mat of dead and decaying vegetation floating on the lake surface form the ataoba, while Phumdi aruppa has mats of vegetation which have sunk to the bottom of the lake and support a rich emergent growth of reeds and grasses. In a 1960 estimate, the phumdi vegetation had been structured into 45% Phragmites karka, 25% Erianthus ravennae (elephant grass
Saccharum ravennae
Saccharum ravennae, with the common name Ravennagrass and locally known as ekra, is a species of grass in genus the Saccharum, the sugarcane genus...
), 15% Saccharum munja, 5% S. latifolium, 5% Alpinia allughas and 2% Saccharum procerum and 3% other species, including Zizania latifolia; Zizania latifolia is the plant much relished by the Sangai deer. Eichhornia crassipes was a recent specie in the open water areas of the swamp in the midst of Polygonum
Polygonum
Polygonum is a genus in the Polygonaceae family. Common names include knotweed, knotgrass, bistort, tear-thumb, mile-a-minute, and several others. In the Middle English glossary of herbs "Alphita" , it was known as ars-smerte. There have been various opinions about how broadly the genus should be...
(Buckwheat) and Trapa (Water caltrop or Boiled water chestnut). The three hills surrounding the Park are now denuded of most of the vegetation.
Fauna
Apart from the Brow-antlered deer – the Cervus eldi eldi (Sangai) – the flagship species of the park, other fauna found in the park were the following.The Mammals reported are the Hog deer
Hog Deer
The Hog Deer is a small deer whose habitat ranges from Pakistan, through northern India, to mainland southeast Asia...
(C. porcinus), Wild boar (Sus scrota)., Large Indian Civet
Large Indian Civet
The Large Indian Civet is a member of the Viverrid family native to Southeast Asia. In 2008, the IUCN classified the species as Near Threatened, mainly because of the known heavy trade as wild meat.- Characteristics :...
s (Viverra civetta, Viverricula indica), common otter ( Lutra lutra), fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
, jungle cat
Jungle Cat
The jungle cat is a medium-sized cat and considered the largest remaining species of the wild cat genus Felis. The species is also called the swamp lynx but is not closely related to the lynxes....
, golden cat
African Golden Cat
The African Golden Cat is a medium-sized wild cat distributed over the rainforests of West and Central Africa. It is about long, and has a tail of about in length...
, Bay bamboo rat
Bamboo rat
The bamboo rats are four species of rodents of the subfamily Rhizomyinae. They are the sole living representatives of the tribe Rhizomyini. All are found in the eastern half of Asia.The species are:...
, musk shrew, common shrew
Common Shrew
The Common Shrew or Eurasian Shrew, Sorex araneus, is the most common shrew, and one of the most common mammals, throughout Northern Europe, including Great Britain, but excluding Ireland. It is long and weighs , and has velvety dark brown fur with a pale underside. Juvenile shrews have lighter...
, flying fox and Sambar (Cervus unicolor). Amongst other vertebrates found in the National Park are fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
es including Channa
Channa
Channa is a genus of the Channidae family of snakehead fishes. This genus contains about 29 species, but the most well known are probably northern snakehead and the giant snakehead . Channa has a wide natural distribution extending from Iran in the West, to China in the East, and parts of Siberia...
striatus, Channa
Channa
Channa is a genus of the Channidae family of snakehead fishes. This genus contains about 29 species, but the most well known are probably northern snakehead and the giant snakehead . Channa has a wide natural distribution extending from Iran in the West, to China in the East, and parts of Siberia...
punctatus, Cyprinus carpio, Wallago attu
Wallago attu
Wallago attu is a species of catfish in the family Siluridae, or "sheatfishes". The fish is commonly known by its genus name, wallago. Found in large rivers and lakes, it can reach 2.4 m total length...
and Puntius sophore (Pool barb), Amphibian
Amphibian
Amphibians , are a class of vertebrate animals including animals such as toads, frogs, caecilians, and salamanders. They are characterized as non-amniote ectothermic tetrapods...
s and Reptile
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
s including Keel back Tortoise
Tortoise
Tortoises are a family of land-dwelling reptiles of the order of turtles . Like their marine cousins, the sea turtles, tortoises are shielded from predators by a shell. The top part of the shell is the carapace, the underside is the plastron, and the two are connected by the bridge. The tortoise...
, Viper
Viperidae
The Viperidae are a family of venomous snakes found all over the world, except in Antarctica, Australia, Ireland, Madagascar, Hawaii, various other isolated islands, and above the Arctic Circle. All have relatively long, hinged fangs that permit deep penetration and injection of venom. Four...
, Krait, Cobra
Cobra
Cobra is a venomous snake belonging to the family Elapidae. However, not all snakes commonly referred to as cobras are of the same genus, or even of the same family. The name is short for cobra capo or capa Snake, which is Portuguese for "snake with hood", or "hood-snake"...
, Water cobra, krait (banded) Bungarus fasciatus
Bungarus fasciatus
The Banded krait is a species of genus Bungarus found in Indian Sub-continent, North Asia and Southeast Asia. It is one of the largest kraits with a maximum length up to .- Description :B...
, Asian rat snake (Beauty rat snake
Beauty rat snake
The Beauty Rat Snake is a species of long, slender, semi-arboreal snakes that are native to Asia. Their average length is about 5-7 feet, with an unofficial record of slightly under 10 ft...
), python, Russel's viper (Daboia
Daboia
Daboia is a monotypic genus of venomous Old World viper. The single species, D. russelii, is found in Asia throughout the Indian subcontinent, much of Southeast Asia, southern China and Taiwan...
), checkered garter snake and Common Lizard (Viviparous Lizard). Python molurus, an endangered species is found in the park.
Avifauna
Prominent bird species recorded in the park were both migratory and resident avifaunaBird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
species. Some of them are East Himalayan pied Kingfisher
Kingfisher
Kingfishers are a group of small to medium sized brightly coloured birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species being found in the Old World and Australia...
, Black kite
Black Kite
The Black Kite is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors. Unlike others of the group, they are opportunistic hunters and are more likely to scavenge. They spend a lot of time soaring and gliding in thermals in search of food. Their...
, lesser sky-lark
Lark
Larks are passerine birds of the family Alaudidae. All species occur in the Old World, and in northern and eastern Australia; only one, the Shore Lark, has spread to North America, where it is called the Horned Lark...
, Northern Hill Myna
Hill Myna
The Common Hill Myna , sometimes spelled "mynah" and formerly simply known as "Hill Myna", is the myna bird most commonly seen in aviculture, where it is often simply referred to by the latter two names. It is a member of the starling family , resident in hill regions of South Asia and Southeast Asia...
, Burmese Pied Myna, North Indian black Drongo
Drongo
The drongos are a family of small passerine birds of the Old World tropics, the Dicruridae. This family was sometimes much enlarged to include a number of largely Australasian groups, such as the Australasian fantails, monarchs and paradise flycatchers...
s, Lesser eastern jungle crow
Crow
Crows form the genus Corvus in the family Corvidae. Ranging in size from the relatively small pigeon-size jackdaws to the Common Raven of the Holarctic region and Thick-billed Raven of the highlands of Ethiopia, the 40 or so members of this genus occur on all temperate continents and several...
, Yellow headed wagtail
Wagtail
The wagtails form the passerine bird genus Motacilla. They are small birds with long tails which they wag frequently. Motacilla, the root of the family and genus name, means moving tail...
, Spotbill duck, Blue-winged teal
Blue-winged Teal
The Blue-winged Teal is a small dabbling duck from North America.-Description:The Blue-winged Teal is long, with a wingspan of , and a weight of . The adult male has a greyish blue head with a white facial crescent, a light brown body with a white patch near the rear and a black tail. The adult...
, Ruddy Shell duck, Threatened Hooded crane
Hooded Crane
The Hooded Crane, Grus monacha is a small, dark crane. It has a grey body. The top of the neck and head is white, except for a patch of bare red skin above the eye...
, Burmese sarus Sarus Crane
Sarus Crane
The Sarus Crane is a large non-migratory crane found in parts of the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Australia. The tallest of the flying birds, standing at a height of up to 1.8 m , they are conspicuous and iconic species of open wetlands...
, Indian white breasted water hen and Crimson-breasted pied wood pecker.
Threats
Some of the identified threats to the park are elaborated below.- The threats to the park are due to the permanent flooding of the park and its resultant effect on the thickness of phumdis. The reason attributed for this is due to construction of the Ithai Barrage under the Loktak Multi-Purpose Project in 1983 where high level of water is maintained (between 768 m (2,519.7 ft) and 768.5 m (2,521.3 ft) ) during October to March – the dry months of the year. This has disturbed the natural cycle of floating and sinking of phumdis which used to be maintained in the Park. Maintenance of high water level in the lake throughout the year for Loktak Multipurpose Project has broken this annual cycle and phumdis remain floating throughout the year during dry season and are no more available to phumdi vegetation. Therefore, the growth of vegetation on phumdis and their thickness are believed to be gradually decreasing.
- Before the construction of the Loktak Hydro Electric Project, the phumdis floated during flooding by backflow from the Khordak River and dischargeDischarge (hydrology)In hydrology, discharge is the volume rate of water flow, including any suspended solids , dissolved chemical species and/or biologic material , which is transported through a given cross-sectional area...
from other streams and nalaNalaNala , a character in Hindu mythology, is the king of Nishadha Kingdom, son of Virasena. Nala is known for his skill with horses and culinary expertise. He marries princess Damayanti, of Vidarbha Kingdom, and their story is told in the Mahabharata. His main weakness is gambling...
s and settled down on lake bed during dry season when water was drawn out through the same river. This resulted in enhancing of nutrientNutrientA nutrient is a chemical that an organism needs to live and grow or a substance used in an organism's metabolism which must be taken in from its environment. They are used to build and repair tissues, regulate body processes and are converted to and used as energy...
s and mineralMineralA mineral is a naturally occurring solid chemical substance formed through biogeochemical processes, having characteristic chemical composition, highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. By comparison, a rock is an aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids and does not...
s of the phumdi vegetation from the bottom of the lake during the dry period. But this cycle has been disturbed by the Loktak Hydro Electric project. One apprehension is that at some stage the phumdis may not be able to support the weight of the Eld's Deer or Sangai deer. - The National Park and the Loktak Lake have provided sustenance (through fishing, growing and collection of vegetables of economic importance) to the people living in the peripheral villages and on the phumdis. The effect of maintaining permanently high water level is stated to be a serious threat to the phumdis and consequently to the people living on the lake/park's natural resources.
- Earlier, there was only marshy land in the park area but after commissioning of the hydroelectric project two ecosystemEcosystemAn ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
s have emerged; one with water body covering one third area and the other the phumdis, which covers two thirds area. - Deteriorating water qualityWater qualityWater quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. It is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species and or to any human need or purpose. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which...
is indicated by the recorded pHPHIn chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
values of 4 to 8.5. The reasons for poor quality are attributed to flow of a) pollutantPollutantA pollutant is a waste material that pollutes air, water or soil, and is the cause of pollution.Three factors determine the severity of a pollutant: its chemical nature, its concentration and its persistence. Some pollutants are biodegradable and therefore will not persist in the environment in the...
s from the towns draining into the lake, b) use of agrochemicals for farming in the surrounding farm land, c) accumulation of water on phumdi, d) deforestationDeforestationDeforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
and subsequent soil erosion in the catchment areaDrainage basinA drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
and e) rottingDecompositionDecomposition is the process by which organic material is broken down into simpler forms of matter. The process is essential for recycling the finite matter that occupies physical space in the biome. Bodies of living organisms begin to decompose shortly after death...
vegetation.
Conservation measures
ConservationConservation biology
Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...
measures suggested relate to development and implementation of a management plan giving priority to long term conservation, monitoring the condition of habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
and to take timely corrective measures by enforcing strict protection of core areas, particularly with reference to the water level due to the Loktak Hydro Electric Power Project. Some of the measures suggested and under implementation are elaborated as a) to provide effective protection, b) developing and maintaining high places with adequate protection and food material to provide protection to the animals in case of flash flood
Flash flood
A flash flood is a rapid flooding of geomorphic low-lying areas—washes, rivers, dry lakes and basins. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a storm, hurricane, or tropical storm or meltwater from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snowfields...
, c) increasing area under phumdis in the park, d) preventing theft of phumdis and flow or part of phumdis towards northern side, e)stopping completely the collection of firewood, food and fodder, f) creating an environment
Social environment
The social environment of an individual, also called social context or milieu, is the culture that s/he was educated or lives in, and the people and institutions with whom the person interacts....
in which local people volunteer as natural custodian of Sangai and other animals in the park, g) to encourage ecotourism
Ecotourism
Ecotourism is a form of tourism visiting fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas, intended as a low impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial tourism...
and nature education, h) to undertake, aid, promote and co–ordinate research works, i) capacity building, training, awareness and extension activities, j) launching packaging and publicity campaign and j) propagating ethnic information, exhibition and soforth.
Conservation measures implemented
The measures that have been implemented by the Forest Department of the Manipur Government are the following.
- A perimeter fence of 2281 m (7,483.6 ft) length in most vulnerable sections of the park to prevent people and domestic livestock from entering the reserve has been created
- A cattle-proof trench has been dug along 870 m (2,854.3 ft) of the boundary
- Seven canoeCanoeA canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
s and four checkpoints are established at strategic places for security. - Army helicopter has carried out census work.
- The Park is under the supervision of a full–time Forest officials.
- Capacity building has been achieved by exclusive placement of an Assistant Conservator of Forests, an assistant veterinary surgeonVeterinary surgeonVeterinary surgeon is a term used to describe:*The full title of a vet, who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals, in the United Kingdom and several Commonwealth countries**See also Veterinary medicine in the United Kingdom...
, a rangerPark rangerA park ranger or forest ranger is a person entrusted with protecting and preserving parklands – national, state, provincial, or local parks. Different countries use different names for the position. Ranger is the favored term in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Within the United...
of forests, field assistant, three foresters, four forest guards and eight others for the Park.
Visitor information
The park is approachable by road, rail and air through ImphalImphal
Imphal is the capital of the Indian state of Manipur.In the heart of the town and surrounded by a moat, are ruins of the old Palace of Kangla. Kangla Fort used to be the home of the Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force and on November 2004 it was handed over to state of Manipur by Prime minister Dr....
, the capital of Manipur. By road it is 53 km (32.9 mi) from Imphal and 522 km (324.4 mi) from Guwahati
Guwahati
Guwahati, Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam formerly known as Gauhati is a metropolis,the largest city of Assam in India and ancient urban area in North East India, with a population of 963,429. It is also the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India...
(Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
) on the National Highway No. 53. Public and private transport ply on these roads.
The nearest rail head is at Dimapur
Dimapur
Dimapur in Nagaland is bounded by Kohima district on the south and east, Karbi Anglong district of Assam on the West, the Karbi Anglong and stretch of Golaghat District of Assam, in the west and the north...
on the broad gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
line of the North Eastern Railways, which is 215 km (133.6 mi) from Imphal by road. Jiribam
Jiribam
Jiribam is a city and a municipal council in Imphal East district in the Indian state of Manipur.- Demographics : India census, Jiribam had a population of 6426. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Jiribam has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average...
is also a railhead on the Manipur border, which is 225 km (139.8 mi) from Imphal
Daily air service is available to Imphal from major cities such as Calcutta, Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, Guwahati
Guwahati
Guwahati, Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam formerly known as Gauhati is a metropolis,the largest city of Assam in India and ancient urban area in North East India, with a population of 963,429. It is also the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India...
and Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
.
Basic accommodation of a forest rest house without boarding facilities is available at Phubala and Sendra islands inside the park and at Moirang
Moirang
Moirang is a city and a municipal council in Bishnupur district in the Indian state of Manipur.Moirang is a town situated in the north east of India, 45 km from Imphal, Manipur. The Moirang C.D. Block came into existence on 4 April 1985 with its headquarters at Moirang Khunou about 1.5 km...
town 10 km (6.2 mi) away from the park. Staying at Imphal which has better hotel facilities is a preferred option.
Visit to the park is ideal between 0600 and 1000 hrs in the morning and 1530 and 1800 hrs in the afternoon, when the Sangai deer comes out to feed in herds. A boat trip along the labyrinthine boat routes passing through colourful water plants would be a good way to see the park. An adventurous trip would be to take a walk through the park but the phumdi is not a firm ground. Manipur Tourism Department arranges conducted day tours to the Loktak Lake
Loktak Lake
Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in India, also called the only Floating lake in the world due to the floating phumdis on it, is located near Moirang in Manipur state, India. The etymology of Loktak is Lok = "stream" and tak = "the end"...
and the Keibul Lamjao Park.
Manipur is considered a sensitive border state. Foreigners entering Manipur (including foreign citizens born in Manipur) must possess a Restricted Area Permit, which can be obtained from the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office in the "metros" (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai) or certain other state government offices. Permits are valid for only 10 days, and visitors must travel only on tours arranged by authorised travel agents, in groups of four. Furthermore, visitors may come to Imphal only by air and are not permitted to travel outside the capital. Restricted Area Permits (RAPs) for visiting Manipur are also valid for entry to Keibul Lamjao National Park.
Contact Assistant Conservator of Forests, Keibul Lamjao National Park, BPO Kha-Thimungei, Manipur Or The Director of Tourism (Hotel Imphal Complex), Near Raj Bhavan, Imphal (Tel: 0385-224603 / 220802 / 222705) for further information.