The Keibul Lamjao National Park (Meitei: Keibul Lamjao Leipakki Lampak) is located in the Bishnupur district of Manipur, a state in Northeast India. It covers an area of 40 km² (15.4 mi²), making it the only floating national park in the world. The park is part of Loktak Lake and is currently listed on UNESCO's tentative list of potential World Heritage Sites under the name "Keibul Lamjao Conservation Area (KLCA)." This listing includes Loktak Lake's buffer zone (140 km²) and Pumlen Pat (43 km²).

The park is known for its unique floating plant material, called phumdi, which forms the base of the ecosystem. Established in 1966 as a wildlife sanctuary, it was created to protect the natural habitat of the endangered Eld's deer (Cervus eldi eldi), the state animal of Manipur. In 1977, the area was officially designated as a national park.

History

The brow-antlered deer was first discovered in Manipur in 1839 and named Cervus eldi eldi in 1844 in honor of Lt. Percy Eld, a British officer. It was reported as an extinct species in 1951. The deer was rediscovered in the Keibul Lamjao Park area by the environmentalist and photographer E.P. Gee. This discovery led to the area being declared a national park to protect and conserve the deer, now known as the brow-antlered deer (Cervus eldi eldi) or Sangai in the Meitei language. This name helps distinguish it from other subspecies found in Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, China, Laos, Vietnam, and Hainan Island, which are called Cervus eldii thamin and Cervus eldii siamensis. The brow-antlered deer holds an important place in the folklore and culture of Manipur and is the state animal of Manipur. Its population grew from 14 deer in 1975 to 155 in 1995. According to the latest wildlife census in March 2016, the number of deer increased to 260.

Geography and topography

The park is a swamp located on the south-eastern side of Loktak Lake, which is a Ramsar site. The swamp is formed by a build-up of plant and animal matter, along with soil particles, that have hardened into a solid layer called phumdis. Two-thirds to three-fourths of the park’s area is made up of phumdis. A waterway through the park allows boats to travel through Loktak Lake all year long, connecting to Pabot Hill in the north. The park’s reserve area was 4,000 hectares (9,884.2 acres) in March 1997. By April 1998, this area had decreased to 2,160 hectares (5,337.5 acres) due to pressure from local villagers. The swamp includes three hills—Pabot, Toya, and Chingjao—that serve as shelter for large mammals during the monsoon season. The park is unique because it is "too deep to be a marsh, too shallow to be a lake." While the land around the park is privately owned, the park itself is mostly owned by the state.

Hydrologic features

The weather and water patterns in the area are influenced by the Indian tropical monsoon, which brings an average yearly rainfall of 1,183 mm (46.6 in). July and August are the wettest months, while February and March are the driest.

The size of the park changes with the seasons because it is made up of phumdis, which are floating masses of organic material. During the dry season, the edges of the lake are connected to the lakebed, but during the monsoon season, these areas become partially covered by water for a few days. After this, the phumdis float to the surface completely, separating from the ground. The depth of the phumdis ranges from 1 ft (0.3 m) to 4 ft (1.2 m). During this time, animals in the park move to higher, hillier areas. About 20% of the phumdis remain above the water, supporting the weight of large mammals.

Temperatures range from a high of 34.4 °C (93.9 °F) in summer to a low of 1.7 °C (35.1 °F) in winter. Humidity reached a highest level of 81% in August and a lowest level of 49% in March.

Flora and fauna

The park is mainly covered by moist semi-evergreen forests and includes a mix of aquatic, wetland, and land ecosystems. The grassland area of the park is divided into three distinct zones.

Aquatic plants found in the park include Zizania latifolia (wild rice, ishing kambong), Tripidium bengalense, Eiranthus procerus (singnang), Dioscorea bulbifera (phumha), Cynodon dactylon (tinthou), Alpinia galanga (pullei), Eichhornia crassipes (kabokang), Hedychium coronarium (loklei), Nelumbo nucifera (thambal), and Phragmites karka (tou).

Some of these plants grow on two types of phumdis: phumdi ataoba (floating mats) and phumdi aruppa (sunken mats). Phumdi ataoba consists of floating mats made of dead and decaying plants, with reeds and grasses growing on top. Phumdi aruppa includes mats that have sunk to the lake bottom, supporting reeds and grasses that grow upward. In a 1960 study, the composition of phumdi vegetation was estimated as follows: 45% Phragmites karka, 25% Erianthus ravennae (elephant grass), 15% Saccharum munja, 5% Saccharum latifolium, 5% Alpinia allughas, 2% Saccharum procerum, and 3% other species, including Zizania latifolia. Zizania latifolia is a preferred food source for the sangai deer. Eichhornia crassipes was found in open water areas near Polygonum (buckwheat) and Trapa (water caltrop or water chestnut). The three hills surrounding the park have lost most of their vegetation.

In addition to the brow-antlered deer (Cervus eldi eldi), the park’s flagship species, other animals found in the park include:

• Mammals: hog deer (C. porcinus), wild boar (Sus scrofa), large Indian civet (Viverra civetta), common otter (Lutra lutra), fox, jungle cat (Felis chaus), Asian golden cat, bay bamboo rat, musk shrew, common shrew, flying fox, and sambar (Cervus unicolor).
• Fish: Channa striata, Channa punctatus, common carp, Wallago attu, and pool barb.
• Amphibians and reptiles: keelback tortoise, viper, krait, cobra, water cobra, banded krait, Asian rat snake (beauty rat snake), python, Russell’s viper (Daboia), checkered garter snake, and common lizard (Viviparous lizard). Python molurus is also present in the park.

Bird species recorded in the park include both migratory and resident birds. Examples are the East Himalayan pied kingfisher, black kite, lesser skylark, northern hill myna, Indian pied myna, North Indian black drongo, lesser eastern jungle crow, yellow-headed wagtail, spotbill duck, blue-winged teal, ruddy shell duck, threatened hooded crane, Burmese sarus crane, Indian white-breasted waterhen, and crimson-breasted pied woodpecker.

Threats

Some of the threats to the park are explained below.

• The park faces threats because of constant flooding, which affects the thickness of phumdis. This flooding is caused by the Ithai Barrage, part of the Loktak Multi-Purpose Project built in 1983. The barrage keeps water levels high (between 768 m (2,519.7 ft) and 768.5 m (2,521.3 ft)) from October to March, which are the dry months of the year. This high water level has disrupted the natural floating and sinking cycle of phumdis. Normally, phumdis would float during wet seasons and sink during dry seasons. However, the high water level throughout the year has stopped this cycle, causing phumdis to stay floating during the dry season. This change has reduced the availability of phumdis for the plants that grow on them, leading to a gradual decrease in their thickness.

• Before the Loktak Hydro Electric Project was built, phumdis floated during flooding caused by water flowing back from the Khordak River and other streams. During dry seasons, they sank to the lake bed, allowing plants on phumdis to absorb nutrients and minerals from the lake bottom. This process helped the plants grow. However, the Loktak Hydro Electric Project has disrupted this cycle. One concern is that phumdis may eventually become unable to support the population of Eld’s deer or sangai deer.

• The national park and Loktak Lake have provided food and resources (like fishing, farming, and collecting vegetables) to people living in nearby villages and on the phumdis. Keeping the water level permanently high is seen as a serious threat to phumdis and the people who depend on the lake and park’s natural resources.

• Before the hydroelectric project was completed, the area was mostly wetland. After the project was built, two ecosystems formed: one with water covering one-third of the area and another with phumdis covering two-thirds of the area.

• Water quality in the lake is worsening, as shown by pH levels ranging from 4 to 8.5. Poor water quality is caused by pollutants from nearby towns, use of chemicals in farming near the lake, water collecting on phumdis, deforestation in the surrounding area leading to soil erosion, and decaying plant material.

Conservation measures

Conservation efforts focus on creating a management plan that prioritizes long-term protection, monitoring the health of habitats, and taking quick action to fix problems by strictly protecting key areas, especially regarding water levels affected by the Loktak Hydro Electric Power Project.

Some of the measures being suggested and carried out include:

• Providing strong protection for the area.
• Building and keeping high places safe with enough food to protect animals during sudden floods.
• Increasing the area covered by phumdis within the park.
• Stopping the theft of phumdis and preventing them from moving toward the northern side.
• Completely banning the collection of firewood, food, and fodder.
• Encouraging local people to act as natural protectors of sangai and other animals in the park.
• Promoting ecotourism and teaching about nature.
• Supporting, helping, and organizing research work.
• Training and raising awareness among people through education and outreach.
• Starting campaigns to spread information and promote the park.
• Sharing cultural information through exhibitions and similar activities.

Conservation measures already carried out by the Forest Department of the Manipur Government include:

• A fence 2,281 meters (7,483.6 feet) long has been built in the most vulnerable parts of the park to stop people and livestock from entering the reserve.
• A trench that keeps out cattle has been dug along 870 meters (2,854.3 feet) of the park’s boundary.
• Seven canoes and four checkpoints have been set up in key locations for security.
• Army helicopters have been used to count wildlife.
• The park is managed by full-time forest officials.
• Staff training has been completed by assigning specific roles, including an Assistant Conservator of Forests, an assistant veterinary surgeon, a ranger, field assistants, foresters, forest guards, and other workers to the park.

Visitor information

The park can be reached by road, rail, and air through Imphal, the capital of Manipur. By road, it is 53 kilometers (32.9 miles) from Imphal and 522 kilometers (324.4 miles) from Guwahati, Assam, along National Highway No. 53. Public and private transportation operate on these roads.

The nearest railway station is Jiribam, located on the border of Manipur, which is 225 kilometers (139.8 miles) from Imphal. Another nearby station is Rani Gaidinliu at Tamenglong, which is 177 kilometers (110.0 miles) from Imphal and 188 kilometers (116.8 miles) from the national park.

Resorts operated by the Classic Hotel for families and couples are available on Sendra Island, which is 5 to 6 kilometers from the National Park. Basic lodging in forest rest houses without meal services is offered at Phubala and Sendra islands within the park and at Moirang town, 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the park. Staying in Imphal, which has more hotel options, is often preferred.

Visiting the park is best between 0600 and 1000 hours in the morning and 1530 and 1800 hours in the afternoon, when sangai deer gather to feed. A boat ride through the winding waterways, which pass by colorful aquatic plants, is an effective way to explore the park. Walking through the park is an adventurous option, but the floating landmasses called phumdi are not solid. The Manipur Tourism Department organizes guided day trips to Loktak Lake and Keibul Lamjao Park.

Manipur is considered a sensitive border region. Previously, foreign visitors, including those born in Manipur, required a Restricted Area Permit. This requirement has now been removed. Foreigners visiting Manipur do not need a permit but must register at designated checkpoints, such as Imphal Airport and Mao and Jiribam for those arriving by road.

Films

"The Return of Sangai (Meitei: Sangai Hallakpa)" is a film about Keibul Lamjao National Park and the Sangai deer. It was created by the forest department of Manipur. The film is available in the languages of English and Manipuri.