Manipur

Manipur is a state in northeastern India with Imphal as its capital. It borders the Indian states of Assam to the west, Mizoram to the south, and Nagaland to the north and shares the international border with Myanmar, specifically the Sagaing Region to the east and Chin State to the southeast. Covering an area of 22,330 km² (8,621 square miles), with a population of around 3.2 million people. The state consists mostly of hilly terrain. It has primarily an agrarian economy, with significant hydroelectric power generation potential. It is connected to other areas by daily flights through Imphal Airport. Manipur is home to many sports and the origin of Manipuri dance and is credited with introducing polo to Europeans. The capital lies in an oval-shaped valley of approximately 2,000 km², surrounded by blue mountains, at an elevation of c.2,500 feet. The slope of the valley is from north to south. The mountain ranges create a moderate climate, preventing the cold winds from the north from reaching the valley and barring cyclonic storms.

There are four major river basins: the Barak River Basin (Barak Valley) to the west, the Manipur River Basin in central Manipur, the Yu River Basin in the east, and a portion of the Lanye River Basin in the north. The Barak River, the largest of Manipur, originates in the Manipur Hills and is joined by tributaries, such as the Irang, Maku, and Tuivai. After its junction with the Tuivai, the Barak River turns north, forms the border with Assam State, and then enters the Cachar Assam just above Lakhipur. The Manipur River basin has eight major rivers: the Manipur, Imphal, Iril, Nambul, Sekmai, Chakpi, Thoubal and Khuga. All these rivers originate from the surrounding hills. Almost all the rivers in the valley area are in the mature stage and therefore deposit their sediment load into Loktak Lake. The rivers draining the Manipur Hills are comparatively young, due to the hilly terrain through which they flow. These rivers are corrosive and become turbulent in the rainy season. Important rivers draining the western area include the Maku, Barak, Jiri, Irang, and Leimatak. Rivers draining the eastern part of the state, the Yu River Basin, include the Chamu, Khunou and other short streams.

Loktak Lake – ©ch_15march CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Manipur may be characterised as two distinct physical regions: an outlying area of rugged hills and narrow valleys, and the inner area of flat plain, with all associated landforms. These two areas are distinct in physical features and are conspicuous in flora and fauna. The valley region has hills and mounds rising above the flat surface. Loktak Lake is an important feature of the central plain. The total area occupied by all the lakes is about 600 km². The altitude ranges from 40 m at Jiribam to 2,994 m at Mount Tempü peak along the border with Nagaland.

Manipur’s climate and soil conditions make it ideally suited for horticultural crops. Growing there are rare and exotic medicinal and aromatic plants. Some cash crops suited for Manipur include Lychee, Cashew, Walnut, Orange, Lemon, Pineapple, Papaya, Passion Fruit, Peach, Pear and Plum. The state is covered with over 3,000 km² (1,200 square miles) of bamboo forests, making it one of India’s largest areas of bamboo. Agriculture in Manipur includes a number of smallholding farms, many of whom are owned by women. Rubber, tea, coffee, orange, and cardamom are grown in hill areas. Rice is a staple food for Manipuris.

Dzukou Valley – ©Mongyamba CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Natural vegetation occupies an area of about 17,418 km² (6,725 square miles), over 75% of the total area of the state, and consists of short and tall grasses, reeds and bamboos, and trees. About a third of Manipur’s forests are protected.

There are six major types of forests in Manipur, which include Tropical Wet Evergreen Forest, Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests, Sub-Tropical Pine Forest, Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest, Montane Wet Temperate Forest and Sub-alpine Forest.  The are forests of teak, pine, oak, uningthou, leihao, bamboo, and cane.

Manipur’s climate is largely influenced by the topography of the region. Lying 790 metres above sea level, Manipur is wedged among hills on all sides. This northeastern corner of India enjoys a generally amiable climate, though the winters can be chilly. The maximum temperature in the summer months is 32 °C. The coldest month is January, and the warmest July. The average annual rainfall is about 58 inches, mostly between April and mid-October. Precipitation ranges from light drizzle to heavy downpour. The capital city Imphal receives an annual average of 37 inches. Rainfall in this region is caused by The South Westerly Monsoon picking up moisture from the Bay of Bengal and heading towards the Eastern Himalaya ranges. This normal rainfall pattern of Manipur enriches the soil and much of the agrarian activities are dependent on it as well.

Birding Manipur

Manipur has two national parks and a number of wildlife sanctuaries. Keibul Lamjao National Park, 48 kilometres away from Imphal, is home to rare and endangered species including brow antlered deer. This ecosystem suits 17 rare species of mammals. It is the only floating national park in the world. Six kilometres to the west of Imphal, at the foot of the pine growing hillocks at Iroisemba on the Imphal-Kangchup Road are the Zoological Gardens. Some brow antlered deer (Sangai) are housed there.

Sirohi National Park – ©Devadarshan Sharma CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

There are at least nine recognised IBAs including the Anko Hills in Ukhrul District; Bunning Wildlife Sanctuary & Zeilad Lake Sanctuary in Tamenglong District; Dzuku Valley in Senapati District; Kailum Wildlife Sanctuary; Loktak Lake & Keibul Lamjao National Park and Yangoupokpi Lokchao in the Chandel District. Loktak Lake is the largest fresh water Lake of North-Eastern India and a Ramsar site. Loktak Lake ecosystem is threatened by excessive loading of silt and nutrients from various anthropogenic sources. Deforestation, shifting cultivation, uncontrolled use of fertilisers in agricultural lands, and discharge of domestic wastes, all contribute to the input of silt and nutrients into the lake which causes excessive biomass production.

Green-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus tristis – ©Bird-Photo-Tours ASIA

Manipur has a rich birdlife and has historically recorded many sought-after species such as Oriental Stork Ciconia boyciana, Greater Adjutant Leptoptilos dubius, White-winged Duck Cairina scutulata, Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis, Baikal Teal Anas formosa, Baer’s Pochard Aythya baeri, Pallas’s Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus, Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga, Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni, Blyth’s Tragopan Tragopan blythii, Sarus Crane Grus antigone, Hooded Crane Grus monacha, Masked Finfoot Heliopais personata, Wood Snipe Gallinago nemoricola, Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis, Tawny-breasted Wren Babbler Spelaeornis longicaudatus, and Beautiful Nuthatch Sitta formosa. The status and present distribution record of many of these is uncertain as is the status of the state bird of Manipur, Mrs Humes Pheasant Syrmaticus humiae. However, it, along with Manipur Bush Quail Perdicula manipurensis and the endangered Green Peafowl Pavo muticus have a decreasing population.

Kailam Wildlife Sanctuary is known to hold Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis, a Vulnerable species, and Grey Sibia Heterophasia gracilis (a restricted Range species), but their status and distribution within the site is not known. There are records of Mrs Hume’s Pheasant Syrmaticus humiae from nearby areas, so it may occur in the park too. This site is best known for its hornbills: Brown Anorrhinus tickelli, Rufous-necked, Great Pied Buceros bicornis, Wreathed Aceros undulatus and Oriental Pied Anthracoceros albirostris. Given the extent of natural forests still remaining there, most of the restricted range species of the Eastern Himalayas EBA are likely to occur.

Indian Nightjar Phaenicophaeus tristis – ©Bird-Photo-Tours ASIA

The area lies in the general distribution range of the Leopard Panthera pardus, Golden Cat Catopuma temmincki, Serow Nemorhaedus sumatraensis, Hoolock Gibbon Hylobates hoolock, Stump-tailed Macaque Macaca arctoides and Asiatic Black Bear Ursus thibetanus.