Manipur Clears A Policy To Save Their Endangered Indigenous Pony

Both the winners and losers in a polo match have one thing in common--Manipuri ponies. But we might just lose them if their dwindling numbers are any proof. The Manipur state Cabinet has approved the draft of the Pony Conservation and Development Policy to counteract the falling numbers of the indigenous Manipuri Pony. According to the Livestock Census, the population of the ponies has fallen sharply from 1898 in 2003 to 1101 in 2012, reported the Imphal Free Press.

According to a release, spokesperson of the state government ,M Okendro said that the decision was taken to help conserve the rare species that is found only in the state. The Manipuri pony is a local cross breed between the Mongolian wild horse and either the Tibetan pony or the Arabian horse. They are primarily used for playing polo as reported by IndiaTimes.

The Assam Tribune reported that the state government would open an exclusive head of account for implementation of the pony conservation policy with the Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry and set up a Manipuri Pony Development Board. It also  mentioned that the Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association (MHRPA) will continue to take various measures to conserve the endangered Manipuri polo ponies by regularly organising the Manipur Polo International every year during the annual Manipur Sangai Festival.

Experts have categorised Manipur ponies as “Critically endangered” species due to its low population and this measure should have been taken years ago. It is still a good move by the state government to lead conservation efforts by clearing such policies and we hope it helps this indigenous animal from going extinct.

Sunzu Bachaspatimayum  from Manipur has also directed a documentary called Sagolgi Eigi Wari  (Pony and Me) which shows the interesting juxtaposition between the lives of the Manipuri ponies and the people who are suffering due to different circumstances.

Feature Image Courtesy: Ashok Ningthoujam/ www.e-pao.net