Keibul
Lamjao National Park
The Keibul Lamjao National Park is a national park in the Bishnupur district of the state of Manipur in India. It is 40 km2 (15.4 sq mi) in area, the only floating park in the world, located in North East India, and an integral part of Loktak Lake.
The national park is characterized by many floating decomposed plant materials locally called Phumdis. To preserve the natural refuge of the endangered Manipur Eld's Deer or Brow-antlered Deer (Cervus eldi eldi), or Sangai also called the Dancing Deer, listed as an endangered specie by IUCN, the park which was initially declared as a Sanctuary in 1966, was subsequently declared as National Park in 1977 through a gazette notification. The Act has generated local support and public awareness
Aquatic flora
Aquatic flora recorded in the park consisted of Zizania latifolia (Wild Rice) (Ishing kambong), Saccharum munja (Khoimom), S. bengal Ensis, Eiranthus procerus (Singnang), Discorea bulbifera (Phumha), Cynodon dactylon (Tinthou), Alpinia galangal (pullei) and Eichhornia crossipes (Kabokang). Hedychium coronarium (Loklei), Nelumbo nucifera (Thambal), Phragmites Karka (Tou) & 100 other species have also been reported.
Some of the above listed flora had been recorded in two types of phumdis namely, the phumdi ataoba (floating) and the phumdi aruppa (sinking); reeds, grasses, and other plants growing on a mat of dead and decaying vegetation floating on the lake surface form the ataoba, while Phumdi aruppa has mats of vegetation which have sunk to the bottom of the lake and support a rich emergent growth of reeds and grasses. In a 1960 estimate, the phumdi vegetation had been structured into 45% Phragmites karka, 25% Erianthus ravennae (Elephant Grass, 15% Saccharum munja, 5% S. latifolium, 5% Alpinia allughas and 2% Saccharum procerum and 3% other species, including Zizania latifolia; Zizania latifolia is the plant much relished by the Sangai deer. Eichhornia crassipes was recent specie in the open water areas of the swamp in the midst of Polygonum (Buck Wheat) and Trapa (Water caltrop or Boiled water chestnut). The three hills surrounding the Park are now denuded of most of the vegetation
Fauna
Brow antelered deer or "Cervus eldi eldi" or Sangai or the Dancing deer
Apart from the Brow-antlered deer - the Cervus eldi eldi (Sangai) - the flagship species of the park, other fauna found in the park were the following.
The Mammals reported are the Hog deer (C. porcinus), Wild boar (Sus scrota)., Large Indian Civets (Viverra civetta, Viverricula indica), common otter (Lutra lutra), fox, jungle cat, golden cat, Bay bamboo rat, musk shrew, common shrew, flying fox and Sambar (Cervus unicolor)
The many Vertebrate recorded are (a) Fishes - Channa striatus, Channa punctatus, Cyprinus carpio, Wallago attu and Puntius sophore (Pool barb), (b) Amphibian (c) Reptiles-Keel back Tortoise, Viper, Krait, Cobra, Water cobra, krait (banded) Bungarus fasciatus, Asian rat snake (Beauty rat snake), python, Russels' viper (Daboia), checkered garter snake and Common Lizard (Viviparous Lizard). Python molurus, an endangered species is found in the park.
Avifauna :
Prominent bird species recorded in the park were both migratory and resident avifauna species. Some of them are listed below:
- East Himalayan pied Kingfisher,
- Black kite,
- lesser sky-lark,
- Northern Hill Myna,
- Burmese Pied Myna,
- North Indian black Drongos,
- Lesser eastern jungle crow,
- Yellow headed wagtail
- Spotbill duck,
- Blue-winged teal,
- Ruddy Shell duck,
- Threatened Hooded crane ,
- Burmese sarus Sarus Crane ,
- Indian white breasted water hen a
- Crimson-breasted pied wood pecker.
Weather
Temperatures varied from a maximum of 34.4 °C (93.9 °F) in summer to a minimum of 1.7 °C (35.1 °F)in winter. Humidity was a recorded high of 81 per cent in August with a minimum of 49 per cent in March.
How to Reach:
The park is approachable by road, rail and air through Imphal, the capital of Manipur. By road it is 53 km (32.9 mi) from Imphal and 522 km (324.4 mi) from Guwahati (Assam) on the National Highway No. 53. Public and private transport ply on these roads.
The nearest rail head is at Dimapur on the Broad Gauge Line of the North Eastern Railways, which is 215 km (133.6 mi) from Imphal by road. Jiribam is also a railhead on the Manipur border, which is 225 km (139.8 mi) from Imphal.
Daily air service is available to Imphal from major cities such as Calcutta, Delhi, Guwahati and Mumbai.