Keibul Lamjao: World’s only floating national park

A rich cultural heritage and unique biodiversity are a few of the reasons that make India truly incredible! Being home to Keibul Lamjao, the world’s only floating national park in the Bishnupur district of Manipur is one of the unique attributes that the country boasts of. Situated in the southwestern part of Loktak Lake, the park was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1966 by the Manipur Wildlife Advisory Board (MWAB). However, it was gazetted as a national park  in 1977 following the Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972 and the Manipur Wildlife (Protection) Rules of 1974. Read on to know more.

Meet Sangai, the dancing deer of Manipur 

Spread over 40 square kms, Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP) is a wetland ecosystem well-known for the patches and rings of biomass called ‘phumdis’. Well, it also happens to be the last natural habitat of Sangai, Manipur's dancing deer. Media reports tell us that this brow-antlered deer, have lived in these floating vegetations for a long time. However, their numbers have started declining due to the floating swamps' inability to support Sangai's weight. In other words, only 23 square km of the park's 40 square km of phumdi can support the weight of the deer. Moreover, according to environmentalists, the construction of the Ithai Barrage in 1986 altered the lake's hydrology.

Saving Sangai!
Alien plant species, illegal fishing and farming activities have encroached upon the park's land. As a result, the Sangai deer, declared endangered, are on the verge of extinction. An aerial survey conducted by the government in 1975 pegged the number of Sangai deer at 14! Therefore, as an initiative to save the dancing deer, the area was declared a national park. It was then that Loktak Lake – the largest freshwater lake in northeast India – became a sanctuary where KLNP now stands, the world's only floating national park. 

Sangai and friends!
Apart from the Sangai deer, you can also find hog deer, otters, numerous waterfowl and migrating birds in KLNP from November to March. A whopping 233 types of aquatic plants, 100 species of birds, and 425 species of mammals, including the Indian python and sambhar, are just a few endangered species that also inhabit this place. In addition, the national park occasionally witnesses rare wild cats like the Asian Golden Cat and the Marbled Cat. On the other hand, it is also a visual treat for bird watchers. You can find both migratory and resident bird species that are popular in the park. These include the East Himalayan pied kingfisher, northern hill myna, drongos, jungle crow, yellow-headed wagtail, numerous varieties of ducks, cranes, woodpecker and black kite.