Migratory birds visiting Loktak lake decline

Our Correspondent
Imphal, Aug. 9 (EMN): The number of migratory birds visiting Loktak lake and its surrounding wetlands in Manipur has declined comparing to the past years. Experts have attributed to high water level and extensive use of LED bulbs for fishing purposes in the night.
Manipur minister of forest and environment, Thounaojam Shyamkumar Singh, disclosed this while releasing a report at his office in Imphal on Wednesday.

According to the report, a total of 15,841 birds belonging to 46 different species were spotted against last year’s record of 17,333 during the Loktak Waterbird Census 2018 conducted on January 20 this year at 50 selected sites using water bird total count method. This year witnessed a decline by 1,492 compared to the previous year.

Shyamkumar announced that the first bird sanctuary of the state would be set up at Thinungei village in Manipur’s Bishnupur district as an initiative to increase the number of birds around the Loktak lake. He said the government would declare Thinungei Bird Sanctuary as per the aspirations of the villagers of Thinungei to provide better protection and management including roosting sites. Thinungei village is located on the western side of Loktak lake.

Shyamkumar said there is a competition between two associated species Sangai and Hog Deer in the Keibul Lamjao, the country’s only floating National Park. Stating that Sangai population is stable while the Hog Deer population is increasing, he said there is a need for alternative dwelling places/habitat sites for both the animals with proper relocation plan.

He said that as per the requirement, the state government would expand the dwelling places/ habitat sites for the animals for which public support was needed particularly from those residing near the periphery of the dwelling areas. He has appealed to the public to support state government in its initiatives for conservation of wildlife and environment.