Thangjam basanta

Dr RK Khogendra Singh: Manipur's iconic Polo Ponies are on the brink of extinction, with only 1,089 remaining after 129 died in the last 16 years, the recent Livestock Census conducted by the Manipur Government revealed.

Since the declaration of ponies as an endangered species in 2013, the numbers have plummeted from around 1,218 in 2007 to the current 1089, as per the Livestock Census that was conducted at the end of last year.

Despite concerted efforts by the state government to conserve these iconic animals, the population continues to dwindle due to various reasons, posing a grave challenge for the struggling Polo Pony owners.