The Sangai Deer (Rucervus eldii eldii): An ecological study on the ‘dancing deer’ of Manipur and the alarming threats to its survival

The Sangai (Rucervus eldii eldii) is found only in the Manipur’s Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP). The Sangai is peculiar, being the "only deer to adapt to a floating wetland habitat." The reasons why there is threats to the Sangai's very existence will, for the purpose of this paper, assume that there are efforts to learn more about the basic characteristics that define the deer, regarding its population and approaches to conservation. Despite a population recovery from near-extinction in 1960s, the species remains in danger of extinction due to its habitat deterioration by Loktak Hydro Electric Project, loss of genetic diversity, poaching and disturbance on the overall ecosystem of Loktak Lake by human activities.