New Sangai enclosure opened to public

Staff Reporter/DIPR
Imphal, Dec 7: Forest and Environment Minister Thounaojam Shyamkumar inaugurated an enclosure of Sangai (brow-antlered deer) and declared it open to public at Manipur Zoological Garden today.
The Sangai enclosure was inaugurated in the presence of Principal Chief Con- servator of Forests (PCCF), Wildlife DJN Anand, Director of Manipur Zoological Garden, and other officers of the Forest Department.
Speaking to media persons, Shyamkumar said that the enclosure of Sangai was constructed under the Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) following the standard design of Central Zoo Authority, India.
Appealing the citizens of the State to love and protect wildlife, he said that from today onwards citizens can watch the Sangai in full view at the enclosure.
Expressing hope that more people will come forward to support wildlife conservation, he lauded the Sangai Express Group of Publication for financially supporting the Manipur Zoological Garden in procuring feed for Sangai.
The Minister lauded The Sangai Express for sponsoring a sum of Rs 25,000 every month to procure feeds for Sangai at the enclosure.
Wishing the best for the paper, the Minister said that such endeavour and commitment to social responsibility will surely inspire others to support and participate in wildlife conservation.
It may be mentioned that the Sangai enclosure at the Manipur Zoological Garden has an area of 4,800 square metres with marshy vegetation, similar to the natural habitat of Sangai. The enclosure houses a large paddock area (animal display area) to meet the animal’s biological requirements including provision for night shelter, kraal and keeper gallery. The side towards the visitor’s path has a wet moat giving a bar less appearance, offering full view of the animals to the visitors.
Two pairs of Sangai were successfully translocated/ relocated from Sangai Conservation Centre, Langol to Manipur Zoological Garden for public display with the technical assistance from Wildlife Institute of India (WII), along with officials and staffs of Manipur Zoological Garden.
Before the translocation process was initiated, due behavioural observation of Sangai started from March this year to October on regular basis by the experts from WII and Manipur Zoological Garden.
The translocation of Sangai was conducted on October 17 and 18. The translocated animals at the Manipur Zoological Garden were kept under regular monitoring for three weeks. All the translocated Sangai are ear-tagged for further research purposes.
The newly translocated adult female gave birth to a baby Sangai/fawn on November 6, which is another success story of Manipur Zoological Garden particularly when it comes to Sangai.
The baby Sangai is now active and healthy and responding well and is being closely monitored by animal attendant W Basanta.