The Hindu : Wildlife population healthy at Top Slip

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 22, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Wildlife population healthy at Top Slip

By V.S. Palaniappan

COIMBATORE MAY 21. The wildlife population at the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary (IGWLS) was found to be healthy and intact during a recent estimation, the Warden of the Sanctuary, V. Ganesan, said here today.

Talking to The Hindu, Mr. Ganesan, said that Anaimalais which was declared as a wildlife sanctuary with 958 sq km area in 1976 has nearly 150 years of forest management history dating back to 1847.

The forest tract of Anamalais exhibiting wide diversity in terrain and climate with elevation ranging from 350m to 2,500m and with rainfall from 1,000mm to 5,000mm with a variety of vegetation it stands as a representative of a western ghats eco-system.

Anamalai's is the home of many rare and endangered species of mammals and birds like elephant, Nilgiri Tahr, leopard, wild dog, gaur, Lion Tailed Macaques (LTMs), Great Pied Hornbills, Ceylon frog mouth, Malabar Great Black wood pecker.

Regular population estimation and periodic intervals was necessary to understand the demographic changes happening in respect of various fauna especially key species like tiger, elephant under Indian conditions and census was necessary for the management of any species.

Recently, population estimation was conducted for various animals like elephant, Gaur, Sambar, Spotted deer, Common Langur, Malabar Giant Squirrel etc., using line transect method developed by Burnham et al (1980) for estimating animal density.

The population of large carnivores such as tigers, leopards were studied by using bio-signatures like pugmarks. This also helped in ascertaining the age and sex of the carnivores.

The State animal of Tamil Nadu, the Nilgiri Tahr, which was endemic to montane grassland, was searched for in all the potential 50 habitats.

The density of various animals per sq km and population in 958 sq km sanctuary area (given in brackets) are as follows: elephant 1.36 (1,303), Gaur 1.25 (1,198), Sambar 2.75 (2635), Chital 6.2 (5,940), Nilgiris Tahr 9.9 (9,495), Common Langur 14 (13,412), Malabar Giant Squirrel 4.2 (4,024).

Direct counting and long term monitoring carried out in about 31 rain forest fragments in Anamalai's for LTMs revealed that there was a population of around 620 in the sanctuary.

Similarly, survey of 50 potential Nilgiri Tahr habitats revealed a number of 507. The pugmark counts for carnivores carried out using, tracing and castings revealed presence of 20 tigers and 35 leopards.

There are shortcomings in the line transect method conducted recently where species like wildboar, Bonnet Macaques, Barking deer, mouse deer, Sloth bear, wilddog etc had not been recorded.

Therefore, species-specific survey depending on their habit (nocturnal/diurnal) had to be carried out for knowing the status of other animals not sighted during the census operation, Mr.Ganesan said.

The forest managers have just completed a synchronised census to assess the population of elephants in Coimbatore circle under the direct supervision of the Conservator, T. Sekar and the results of the same were being compiled.

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Wildlife population healthy at Top Slip