THE RETURN OF SANGAI

 The dear story of a deer, saved from extinction, at the only floating National Park in the world, Keibul Lamjao National Park

In the far reaches of North East India, lies a place, so hidden, that few have heard about. A realm of waterways, and floating meadows. Indeed, a unique environment, essential to both the people who live around, and the wild animals, that share it.

This, is the story of the only floating national park on our planet, and the only home to an endangered deer subspecies, that has made a remarkable comeback from the brink of extinction.

"Congratulations! Your film is terrific. I’ve been showing it to all my friends and I am proud of you.

It’s a great subject, well narrated, with excellent photography and illustrations."

Bruce Dale, National Geographic Photographer

THE INSPIRATION

From the time I visited this place for the first time, I felt a strong attachment to this place.

This place was so remote, in one unseen corner of India, far away from everything thing I knew and heard about. 

What amazed me more was that, none of my friends even knew about this floating National park.. the only floating National Park in the world.

I felt this special place deserve more respect, and Sangai deserves more attention from around the world.

Sangai in its natural habitat

That is when we thought to make this short film. Though we tried to document the Sangai for a broadcast documentary, a couple of years ago, we were not successful. Being very shy Sangai, was far away from us and used to come out rarely, only during the early morning, when its dark.

Early morning trip to Pabot island looking for Sangai (Cameraman Sumanth with forest guard Basanda)

But everything worked when we, team of Sumanth and I reached the park in March 2016. 

It was raining most of the days and they were so far away from us. We had to wait for several days looking at the vast grasslands before we saw them and finally document them.

Thanks to wildlife film maker Sandesh Kadur who helped us in all aspects of making this documentary.

EXPERIENCES

WHEN WE LOST ONE OF OUR CAMERAS

Halfway during our first visit to the National Park, we noticed that we were short of once camera. we searched for it in all our bags, vehicles and literally everywhere we could think of.

We were worried and we convinced ourselves that, we may not have taken that camera to Manipur.

After a couple of days, when we visited the visitors gallery (Near the above photograph), we found that the camera was laying there on one of the chairs.... after three days.

It was intact.....nobody had stolen the camera....infact nobody would have visited that place. It was like getting our lives back....

THE HARE RAMA COOK

The cook at the forest IB is a local villager, who doesnt know English or Hindi. The only way we could communicate with him was by sign language. The only word he could speak to us was "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" and we ended up calling him the same. I still dont know is real name.

An aerial view of the national park

A real hard-worker, and my favorite shot in the documentary was him rowing the canoe .. The next time I visited the National Park to screen the documentary, I knew that everyone at the forest department started calling him "Hare Rama Hare Krishna"

Hare Rama, Hare Krishna

 
With my friend Promod  during his studies at Chil Chil College at Kanglatongbi near Imphal