which is the only floating national
park and is the natural habitat of the
endangered species of deer locally
called Sangai (Rucervus eldi eldi), also
commonly known as brow-antlered
deer. The beauty and biodiversity
richness makes Loktak Lake a
worldwide name.
Indeed, it will not be wrong to
entitle phumdi as ‘the beauty with the
purpose’, as it enhanced the beauty
of the lake and provides habitat for
many important species of flora and
fauna. Some of the few floras that
composed the floating biomass are
Sappa kang (Salvinia natans), Kang
(Azolla pinnata), Pullei (Alpinea
nigra), Kabokkang (Eichhornia
crassipes), yelang morokshabi
(Polygonum sp.), Kang napi/ Wana
manbi (Capillipedium sp.), Shing-ut
(Erianthus ravernnae), Shingnang
(E. procerus), Ishing kambong
(Zizania latifolia), Tou (Phragmites
karka), Shembang kouthum
(Cyperus brevifolius), Singang
chu/ Ee (Saccharum spontaneum),
Khoimom (Saccharum munja),
Wainuchara (Oryza rufipogon),
Pambi hingchabi or Sajik tujombi
(Brachiaria mutica), Urichak
(Echinochloa stagnina), Loklei
(Hedychium flavum) Takhellei
angouba (Hedychium coronarium),
Hoop (Leersia hexandra), Komprek
(Oenanthe javanica), etc. Out of
these many floral species, Pullei,
Shingnang, Shing-ut, Loklei/
Takhellei, Wainuchara, Khoimom,
Ishing kambong are the favourite
food of Sangai.
Amongst the fauna other than
Sangai that inhabits the phumdis
are Wild boar (Sus scrota), Indian
python (Python molurus), Sambhar
deer (Rusa unicolor), Hog deer (Axis
porcinus), squirrel (Sciuridae sp.),
Mongoose (Herpestes sp.), Otter/
weasel (Lutra lutra), Leopard cat
(Prionailurus bengalensis), Large
Indian civets (Viverra sp.), etc. These
flora and fauna are interdependent
to one another as a way of natural
process. Tou is a fast spreading plant
on phumdis but its expansion is
controlled naturally as its tender
leaves is one of the favorite food
of Wild boar. The phumdis also
provides a breeding ground for
many birds like owl, etc. And
when winter approaches, Loktak
Lake and its phumdis becomes the
roosting site and foraging ground
for migratory birds like Nganu pirel
(Anas poecilorhyncha), Thangongmaan
(Anas Penelope), Surit (Anas
crecca creca), Nganu Angangbi
(Tadorna ferruginea), Tingee
macha (Dendrocygna javanica)
and Urenkothong (Amaurornis
phoenicurus), etc.
In addition to the natural biodiversity
and ecological cycle, it provides a
source of livelihood for many people
in its vicinity. The unique circular
feature of the phumdi is created only
for the purpose of fishing. Generally,
most of the fishes live beneath these
phumdis, and there are different
ways of fishing such as Phumnamba,
Phumdao lu-thumba, Phumdao
chingba, etc. which the fishermen
have been following since long back.
Certainly, these ways of fishing is
another special amenity provided
to the people by the phumdis. Years
ago, when there was no restriction of
fishing in the Loktak Lake, the lake
was fully dressed with these artificial
circular phumdis of athaphum, which
is more or less a kind of temporary
aqua-pond. These athaphums make
the lake more eye-catching and
Loktak Lake, Photo by Nongamba Sorokhaibam
52
