Mah: Wildlife census completed in Vidarbha

Nagpur, May 4: A census of wild animals was completed in 20 of the 23 protected and reserved forests in Vidarbha in Maharashtra today.

The census of carnivorous animals was completed successfully in all the areas in the region, Chief Conservator of Forests (Wild Life) Dr Nand Kishore told UNI.

The census of herbivorous animals was also completed successfully in all areas, except for Pench National Park, Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and Bor Wildlife Sanctuary due to poor visibility caused by cloud cover in these areas last night, he said.

The sighting for herbivores is usually carried out on a full moon night, and the census in these three areas would, therefore, be completed on the next full moon night, he informed.

The traditional method of tracing and plaster casting of pugmarks for carnivores and sighting for herbivores was used during the exercise, Dr Kishore said.

The exercise was carried out by staff from the Forest Department of the state government with assistance from volunteers of non-government organisations, he added.

Dr Kishore said the census of carnivorous animals like the tiger and panther was carried out from April 27 to May 1, while that of herbivorous animals was carried out yesterday and today.

The census was carried out simultaneously in the 35 wildlife sanctuaries and 6 national parks in Maharashtra, including 19 sanctuaries and 4 national parks in Vidarbha, the Chief Conservator of Forests said.

The data thus collected would first be analysed before being sent for scrutiny to a state-level committee, which would declare the wildlife population later, he said, adding that the process would take several weeks.

UNI