sangai

The sangai, or Eld's deer (Rucervus eldii eldi), is an endangered subspecies of brow-antlered deer native to Manipur in northeastern India. It is also known as Eld’s deer and is the state animal of Manipur. The name sangai is the local Manipuri term for this deer.

The sangai is restricted to Keibul Lamjao National Park, located on Loktak Lake, the world’s largest floating national park. The animals live on phumdis, a complex of floating vegetation, and depend on the lake’s seasonal water levels and surrounding woodlands. This highly localized distribution makes the sangai especially vulnerable to habitat changes and environmental disturbances.

In appearance, adult sangai have a reddish-brown coat with a pale underside. Male antlers are broad, palmated, and intricately branched, earning the species its brow-antlered designation. Adults are medium-sized deer, with males typically larger than females. The sangai is primarily herbivorous, feeding on grasses, leaves, fruit, and aquatic vegetation found within its flooded habitat. They form social groups, with seasonal changes in group composition, and females give birth to one calf after a gestation of several months.

Conservation status: The sangai is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to its very small and declining population, habitat loss, and threats from flooding, pollution, and human disturbance. Protective measures include the Keibul Lamjao National Park, habitat management, anti-poaching efforts, and community-based conservation programs around Loktak Lake. Ongoing monitoring and habitat restoration are central to efforts to secure the subspecies for the future.