The Manipur government has taken several steps, including allotment of grasslands, to protect the state's endangered 'polo ponies'. The Manipur government has now allotted 30 acres of grassland at Lamphelpat in Imphal West district for conservation of endangered species.
The initiative aims to provide a new home for these' polo ponies, allowing them to roam and graze freely, which is crucial to their conservation.
The population of Manipuri' polo ponies is steadily declining, with only 1,089 ponies remaining as per the latest livestock census.
Despite being declared an endangered species in 2013 and various conservation efforts, this number has fallen from around 1,218 in 2007, posing a serious challenge to their survival.