Census of Mudhumalai Park to complete by Mar 18

Chennai, Mar 14: The seven-days general census of Mudhumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park in Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, undertaken by the Wildlife Department, would be completed by March 18.

Wildlife Department sources said a training programme was also held in Theppakadu, as part of the census. Though as many as 148 volunteers came forward to assist, only 32 were selected for taking the census of the park, which was spread over 271 sqkm.

Around 70 forest officers and 25 trainee students from colleges and 17 beat watchers were given the basic training required for taking a census.

People from Kerala and Karnataka State Forest Training Colleges would assist in conducting the census, which would also be supported by National Wild Life Fund.

As many as 30 groups with 60 cameras would be deployed to monitor animal movement at different locations, including 17 water holes.

The census teams would have to cover a minimum of 15 km a day in their assigned beats, the sources added.

UNI