Sangai

About Sangai

• It is subspecies of Eld's deer endemic to Manipur.
• It also has immense cultural relevance to Manipur.
• Distribution: It is found only in Keibul Lamjao National Park – the largest single mass of phumdi is in the Loktak Lake – in Manipur’s Bishnupur district.
• Appearance
  • It is a medium-sized deer, with uniquely distinctive antlers, with extremely long brow tine, which form the main beam.
  • The forward protruding beam appears to come out from the eyebrow, hence called the brow-antlered deer.
  • It has a dark reddish-brown winter coat, which turns paler in summer.
  • The deer walks on the hind surface of its pasterns with mincing hops over floating foliage, and is hence also called the Dancing Deer.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN: Critically Endangered
  • The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule-1

Key facts about Loktak Lake

• It is a freshwater lake in the state of Manipur.
• It is famous for unique floating islands called Phumdis with multiple plant species.
• The Keibul Lamjao National Park located on the Loktak Lake is the last natural habitat of the “Sangai” the dancing deer of Manipur.
• It is regarded as among the most beautiful and ecologically diverse lakes in the Northeast.
• The lake is designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.

Q1) What is special about the Keibul Lamjao National Park?

It is the world’s only floating national park. It is located in the Bishnupur district in Manipur.The park is located in the southwestern part of the famous Loktak Lake, which is well known for the floating biomass called phumdis. 

Source: Lake project threat to Sangai: Manipur to the Centre