Previous Year Question

Keibul Lamjao National Park is located in the southern part of Loktak Lake in Manipur.

It is considered the world’s only floating national park, situated on marshy masses composed of floating vegetation and organic matter.

These floating masses are locally known as phumdis.

Phumdis are heterogeneous masses of vegetation, soil and organic matter at different stages of decomposition.

Phumdis move upwards and downwards with changes in water level during different periods of the year and support several grasses, shrubs and aquatic plants.

Keibul Lamjao was initially designated a wildlife sanctuary and was accorded national park status in 1977.

The national park extends over an area of approximately 40 square kilometres.

It is the last major natural habitat of the Sangai or Manipur brow-antlered deer.

The scientific name of the Sangai is Rucervus eldii eldii, and it is the State animal of Manipur.

The hooves and walking style of the Sangai help it move over the soft and floating surface of the phumdis.

Because of its distinctive gait while moving on the phumdis, the Sangai is often called the ‘dancing deer’.

Loktak Lake is also important for fish, aquatic vegetation, migratory birds and the livelihoods of local communities.

Artificial alteration of water levels, reduction in phumdi thickness, pollution, poaching and human pressures are major threats to this ecosystem.

Bhitarkanika National Park is a mangrove and estuarine ecosystem in Odisha and is famous for the saltwater crocodile.

Keoladeo Ghana National Park is a managed wetland and famous bird habitat in Rajasthan, but it is not a floating national park situated on phumdis.

Sultanpur National Park is a shallow wetland in Haryana and is known for resident and migratory birds.