The Manipur government has now allotted 30 acres of grassland at Lamphelpat in Imphal West district for the conservation of the endangered species, officials said.
Announcing the government's latest move, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said in the post on To graze.
“The state government is taking various measures to protect the Manipur Pony, which is closely linked to the history and culture of the state. We gave the world the game of modern polo and considering the importance of this animal, its conservation requires public support."I also commend the Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association for its initiative to save the precious but endangered Manipuri pony. Am.,
There are about 26 polo clubs in Manipur. One of them, the Manipur Horse Ridin and Polo Association, which was established in 2005 with 34 ponies, serves as a stud farm for ponies.
According to the 20th livestock census conducted by the Manipur government, only 1,089 ponies are left in the state after the death of male horses over the past 16 years, officials said. The Manipur government had declared ponies an endangered species in 2013 and since then, According to the livestock census conducted annually, the numbers have declined from approximately 1,218 in 2007 to 1,089.
Despite concerted efforts by the state government to conserve these pony animals, their population is continuously declining due to various reasons, posing a serious challenge to the struggling pony owners.Although ponies are a source of great pride for the people of Manipur, the animal's numbers are gradually declining or heading towards extinction, with an annual decline of at least eight ponies, according to census data. Thangjam Basanta, owner of 15 polo ponies, expressed deep concern over the rapid decline in numbers and attributed it to various factors, the most important of which was dwindling pastures.
Basanta asks, “Like other states, there are no pastures left in the urban and semi-urban areas of Manipur because humans have encroached on them for so-called developmental projects and construction of houses. Where to provide fodder to the ponies ?" , who is himself an avid polo player.
Although polo is considered a 'rich people's game' elsewhere in the country, in Manipur, it is played mainly by the common people, who often come from economically challenged backgrounds.Most polo pony owners face a substantial financial burden, which is further compounded by the absence of government schemes to aid in their maintenance.
Sarangthem Abung, a pony owner from Imphal West district, stressed the importance of government incentives for pony owners, saying, "There is an urgent need for the revival of pastureland and polo grounds to save the sport and polo pony culture in Manipur."
Located in Imphal, the iconic Hapta Kangjeibung, one of the oldest polo courses and practice grounds in the world, has been inaccessible to polo players since 2011, as it has been converted into a fair ground and is a venue for large gatherings by political parties. Both Basanta and Abung feel that Hapta Kangjibung should be allowed to be used as a practice ground to rejuvenate the declining polo culture in the state.
The lack of government incentives has increased the financial challenges faced by pony owners as they struggle to raise funds for treatment, supply of feed and stable maintenance of their trusted horses.Another accomplished polo player, Doreen Singh, who has 13 ponies, believes that any conservation policy must address the lack of pasture and practice grounds. She calls for government incentives for individual pony owners similar to those for polo clubs. Also demanded.
To raise the status of polo ponies, the Government of Manipur introduced the Manipur Pony Conservation and Development Policy in 2016, which provided incentives to polo clubs.
Joint Director in the Directorate of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, R.K. Khogendra Singh attributed the decline of polo ponies to their underutilization. Emphasizing that awareness starting from the grassroots level is imperative for pony conservation, Khogendra Singh said, “Preserving the Manipuri pony is not only a matter of the department. It is a responsibility, rather it is a collective responsibility.There is a need to create widespread awareness from the grassroots level. “To include pony stories in the school curriculum.”
Citing last year's livestock census data, the official said Imphal West district has the highest number of ponies at 619, followed by Imphal East (266) Bishnupur (97), Tamenglong (75), and other districts.
The district wise pony number as per census in 2007 was
(302), Thoubal (280), Senapati (229), Bishnupur (115), Churachandpur (85) Chandel (64), Tamenglong (54), Ukhrul (54), and Imphal East (35). At that time, the state The total number of ponies was 1218.Despite efforts by Manipur Police to propose a mounted unit in every police station to increase the number of ponies, progress has been hampered due to the prevailing situation in Manipur.
Among the northeastern states, the distinctive and pure horse breed is found only in Manipur. The Manipuri pony is considered one of the five indigenous horse breeds in India along with Marwari, Kathiawadi, Zanskri and Spiti.
Announcing the government's latest move, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said in the post on To graze.
“The state government is taking various measures to protect the Manipur Pony, which is closely linked to the history and culture of the state. We gave the world the game of modern polo and considering the importance of this animal, its conservation requires public support."I also commend the Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association for its initiative to save the precious but endangered Manipuri pony. Am.,
There are about 26 polo clubs in Manipur. One of them, the Manipur Horse Ridin and Polo Association, which was established in 2005 with 34 ponies, serves as a stud farm for ponies.
According to the 20th livestock census conducted by the Manipur government, only 1,089 ponies are left in the state after the death of male horses over the past 16 years, officials said. The Manipur government had declared ponies an endangered species in 2013 and since then, According to the livestock census conducted annually, the numbers have declined from approximately 1,218 in 2007 to 1,089.
Despite concerted efforts by the state government to conserve these pony animals, their population is continuously declining due to various reasons, posing a serious challenge to the struggling pony owners.Although ponies are a source of great pride for the people of Manipur, the animal's numbers are gradually declining or heading towards extinction, with an annual decline of at least eight ponies, according to census data. Thangjam Basanta, owner of 15 polo ponies, expressed deep concern over the rapid decline in numbers and attributed it to various factors, the most important of which was dwindling pastures.
Basanta asks, “Like other states, there are no pastures left in the urban and semi-urban areas of Manipur because humans have encroached on them for so-called developmental projects and construction of houses. Where to provide fodder to the ponies ?" , who is himself an avid polo player.
Although polo is considered a 'rich people's game' elsewhere in the country, in Manipur, it is played mainly by the common people, who often come from economically challenged backgrounds.Most polo pony owners face a substantial financial burden, which is further compounded by the absence of government schemes to aid in their maintenance.
Sarangthem Abung, a pony owner from Imphal West district, stressed the importance of government incentives for pony owners, saying, "There is an urgent need for the revival of pastureland and polo grounds to save the sport and polo pony culture in Manipur."
Located in Imphal, the iconic Hapta Kangjeibung, one of the oldest polo courses and practice grounds in the world, has been inaccessible to polo players since 2011, as it has been converted into a fair ground and is a venue for large gatherings by political parties. Both Basanta and Abung feel that Hapta Kangjibung should be allowed to be used as a practice ground to rejuvenate the declining polo culture in the state.
The lack of government incentives has increased the financial challenges faced by pony owners as they struggle to raise funds for treatment, supply of feed and stable maintenance of their trusted horses.Another accomplished polo player, Doreen Singh, who has 13 ponies, believes that any conservation policy must address the lack of pasture and practice grounds. She calls for government incentives for individual pony owners similar to those for polo clubs. Also demanded.
To raise the status of polo ponies, the Government of Manipur introduced the Manipur Pony Conservation and Development Policy in 2016, which provided incentives to polo clubs.
Joint Director in the Directorate of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, R.K. Khogendra Singh attributed the decline of polo ponies to their underutilization. Emphasizing that awareness starting from the grassroots level is imperative for pony conservation, Khogendra Singh said, “Preserving the Manipuri pony is not only a matter of the department. It is a responsibility, rather it is a collective responsibility.There is a need to create widespread awareness from the grassroots level. “To include pony stories in the school curriculum.”
Citing last year's livestock census data, the official said Imphal West district has the highest number of ponies at 619, followed by Imphal East (266) Bishnupur (97), Tamenglong (75), and other districts.
The district wise pony number as per census in 2007 was
(302), Thoubal (280), Senapati (229), Bishnupur (115), Churachandpur (85) Chandel (64), Tamenglong (54), Ukhrul (54), and Imphal East (35). At that time, the state The total number of ponies was 1218.Despite efforts by Manipur Police to propose a mounted unit in every police station to increase the number of ponies, progress has been hampered due to the prevailing situation in Manipur.
Among the northeastern states, the distinctive and pure horse breed is found only in Manipur. The Manipuri pony is considered one of the five indigenous horse breeds in India along with Marwari, Kathiawadi, Zanskri and Spiti.
