DANCING DEER

About:

• Scientific Name: Rucervus eldii.
  
  
• Common Name: Sangai, Brow antlered deer, Dancing Deer.
  
  
• Population: About 260 (acc. to a joint census conducted by the Forest Department in 2016).
  
  
• Habitat and 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.
  
  
• Characteristics:
  • Sangai 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.
    
    
  
  
  
• Status:
  • State animal of Manipur.
    
    
  • Schedule-1 of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
    
    
  • Endangered on IUCN Red List.
    
    
  
  
  
• Conservation Issues:
  • Sangai faces threat from steadily degenerating habitat of phumdi as a result of continuous inundation and flooding caused due to artificial reservoir.
    
    
  • There is also invasion of non-native plants like Paragrass.
    
    
  • It also faces threats of diseases from the livestock, inbreeding depression and poaching.