#sangai

Deercember Day Thirty-One: Sangai | New Beginnings

The sangai (Panolia eldii eldii according to current genetic evidence, though Rucervus eldii eldii according to most scientific literature) is an endemic and endangered subspecies of Eld's deer found only in Manipur, India. It is also the state animal of Manipur. Its common English name is Manipur Eld's deer or Manipur brow-antlered deer, though it is also known as the dancing deer due to its appearance when standing on the floating phumdis which slowly bob on Loktak Lake, giving it the illusion of "dancing". It is believed that the indigenous name sangai ('sa' meaning "animal", and 'ngai' meaning "in awaiting") was coined from its peculiar posture and behaviour while running; by nature, the deer—particularly the males, even when running for its life—stops occasionally and looks back, as if waiting for someone.

Its original natural habitat is the floating marshy grasslands of the Keibul Lamjao National Park, located in the southern parts of Loktak Lake, which is the largest freshwater lake in South Asia. The park covers an area of 40 km² (15.44 mi²) and the home range of the deer in the park is confined to 15 – 20 km² (5.79 - 7.72 mi²). Phumdi is the most important and unique part of the habitat; it is the floating mass of vegetation formed by the accumulation of organic debris and biomass with soil, with thickness varying from few centimeters to two meters. The humus of phumdi is black in colour and very porous and spongy. It floats with 80% of its mass submerged in an annual cycle of rising and falling on Loktak Lake, though this has been disrupted by a hydroelectric dam resulting in the deterioration of the phumdi.

The sangai was believed to be almost extinct by 1950. However, in 1953, six heads of the sangai were found in its natural habitat. Since then, the Manipur state government has taken serious and positive measures toward its protection. The number of sangai listed in the Red Data Book was only 14 in 1975. Despite this, its number has since increased to 204 in 2013, and to 260 in March of 2016. The genetic bottle-necking of this near-extinction event may yet have catastrophic effects on the subspecies, with concerning evidence being found in instances such as albinism despite the small population size.

Culturally, the sangai finds itself embedded deep into the legends and folklore of the Manipuri people. Based on a popular folk legend, the sangai is interpreted as the binding soul between humans and nature. The slaying of the sangai, an unpardonable sin, is conceived as the forceful separation of the harmonious relationship between humans and nature. When humans love and respect the sangai, it is respecting nature. In the sangai, therefore, humans find a way of expressing their love for nature. More information here.

References: Deer*, Background.