Border fencing likely to upset sanctuary life
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 9: The plan-ned border fencing for a stretch of 10 kms in Moreh sector along the Indo-Myanmar border through Yangoupokpi Wildlife San-ctuary is likely to cause serious disturbance to migr-atory habits of wild animals.
Wild animals living in Yangoupokpi Wildlife San-ctuary, better known as the home to Hoolock Gibbons (black monkey) have a habit of migrating to and from contiguous areas of India and Myanmar across the international boundary.
Moreover, elephants from Myanmar make seaso-nal migration to the san- ctuary.
It is reported that the sanctuary is home to 42 species of mammals, 74 species of monkeys, 29 species of reptiles, six species of amphibians and 86 species of fishes.
Once the proposed border fencing from border pillar 79 to pillar number 81 is completed, around 10 he-ctares of the wildlife sanc- tuary would be fenced off. This would not only disturb the migratory habits of wild animals but also upset the breeding cycle.
The border fencing aim-ed at checking cross-border movement of insurgents and trans-border smuggling would seriously jeo- pardise the natural life cycle of malayan sun bear, barking deer, sambar, leopard, golden cat, jackal, wild bear, jungle cat etc.
After 10 hectares were separated from the sanctuary for the 10 kms long border fencing, the Government has written to the Fo- rest Department to give another 25 hectares from the sanctuary, informed a source.
The wildlife sanctuary extending over an area of 184.80 square kilometres was set up in 1989.
Wildlife experts have strongly suggested that the Government should check out all possible ways of putting up the border fencing in such a way that migratory routes of wild animals are not blocked.
On the other hand, it is reported that there has been no increase in the number of Sangais being kept at Langol Sangai Second Home from the existing 5/6 Sangais. One primary reason for the stagnant number is killing young fawns by adult males, added the source.
Meanwhile, the Government has decided to give over the area where the Tamil temple is located to Myanmar so that the uncertainty regarding the exact position of border pillar number 78 is settled.
In exchange for giving up the land where the temple stands today, the Government would provide an al- ternative site in addition to the money required to construct the temple.
Even if there arises objection to the arrangement, the State Government has decided to go ahead with its plan as it intends to settle the long standing dispute between Myanmar and India over the location of the particular border pillar near Moreh.