330 personnel to conduct tiger census from 26 April

PTI, PANAJI | 19 April 2010 19:17 IST

The findings of pug marks similar to that of tiger has added vigour to state forest department’s wildlife census scheduled to begin at the end of this month.

"We found certain pugmarks in the wildlife which can be that of tiger, leopard, panther or even wild cat," Dr Gautam Talukdar, an expert from wildlife Institute of India (WII), told Press Trust of India this morning.
 
He said that the pugmarks samples are subjective as detailed analyzing of the sample would yield proper assessment of about the animal.
 
WII official was part of the two member team that trained Goa forest department officers for the census for three days.
 
Talukdar has said that qualitative analysis of these pug marks needs to be done before confirming any animal.
 
The state is readying to host wildlife animal census in all its six wildlife sanctuaries and government owned forest areas. The survey will begin on April 26 and conclude on May 04, 2010.
 
A team of 330 people including forest department staff will search every inch of forest for the clues or signs to know the movement or existence of animals.
 
A forest department officer said that spread over three phases, the survey will also have a camera trapping method in its third leg.
 
"The cameras with ultraviolet rays censor would be installed in wildlife which will click photograph of any animal or creature that crosses the rays," he said.
 
The census will involve collection of samples, analysis and finally camera trapping method.
 
The survey of carnivorous animals would be conducted initially followed by herbivorous ones, he said.
 
The census will also study the habitat disturbance and quality in the forest and wildlife sanctuaries.
 
Talukdar said that the habitat disturbance can be due to cutting of trees, human intervention, cattle grazing and weeds. "There are different reasons but we are interested to see whether this disturbance has impacted the animals," he added.
 
Goa in past has done animal census in 1997, 2002, 2006 and now in 2010.
 
Talukdar stated that the census will collect basic information which will be analysed on various scientific methods available.  

Drop a comment