Date:30/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/30/stories/2008033052230300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Wildlife census begins in Krishnagiri district

Staff Reporter

Usage of GPS, software will be special feature

Krishnagiri: A census on wild animals in the forest ranges of Krishnagiri district commenced here on Saturday.

With no systematic population studies available for wild animals except elephants and tigers, the census will provide a clear picture of all major wild animals in Dharmapuri Forest Circle.

The wild animals here include bisons, wild boars, bears, foxes, wild dogs, sambars, spotted deer, barking deer, mongooses and rabbits.

The entire hill areas from Urigam to Krishnagiri are being covered for enumeration, say forest officials.

According to Conservator of Forests, Dharmapuri Circle, P.A. Mani, as part of the operation direct sightings and indirect sightings (pug marks) of the animals will be listed under the line transect method, which will cover a minimum of 2 km in all forest areas.

Separate teams consisting of non-governmental organisations, students and volunteers have been despatched to Anchetti, Urigam, Jawalagiri, Rayakottai, Denkanikottai, Hosur and Krishnagiri ranges, which span an area of 3.5 lakh hectares of reserve forests and also private plantations.

Usage of Global Positioning System (GPS) and a computer software will be a special feature in the operation.

The department has imparted adequate technical training in census operation to all forest officials starting from District Forest Officers to Foresters and Guards.

The collected data from all the forest ranges will soon be passed on for analysis based on which further conservation programmes will be charted out, Mr. Mani says.