K'taka: Census shows rise in sex ratio of pachyderm

Mysore, July 15: The elephant census from Chamarajanagara Wildlife Division in forest circle has indicated a rise in the male -female sex ratio of the pachyderm.

The census has indicated that there is one male elephant for every four female elephants in the region and the sex ratio has been described as healthy.

The Conservator of forests Chamarajanagara circles sources told the sources that the census was conducted for three days in the first week of May as part of an exercise held simultaneously in Bandipur, Nagarahole National Parks and other wildlife sanctuaries to ascertain the approximate number of wild elephants in the country.

It used the block count, line transact and water hole count methods to examine family size, elephant structure and population trends.

Nearly 30 per cent of the forest area was covered in the block count method. The census assumes importance as Karnataka has over 6000 elephants, the highest for any state. While the estimated number of wild elephants in India is more than 28,000, South India alone has more then 15,000, among the southern states, Karnataka has 6,088 while Kerala and Tamil Nadu, have 5737 and 297 elephants respectively.

Elephants were found along the western and eastern ghats that run through the state, from Dandeli on the northern part of the western ghats to the Bandipur National Park, the southern part of the ghats.

While the numbers were very low in the northern part, it was high in the southern parts comprising Bandipur and Nagarahole. On the eastern ghats, the pachyderms were found in the wildlife sanctuary and forests adjoining it.

Though the numbers in South India have been impressive, conservationists speak of the increasing elephant mortality in Karnataka. There were 1,112 elephants in Chamarjanagara forest circle. Spread over 1719 sqkm, these thick jungles were home to elephants, tigers, chitals and other herbivores. Experts and wildlife biologists have pointed out that the increase in the sex ratio of elephants is an important aspect for their long term survival. The prelimnary census data has confirmed the presence of 600 elephants at the BRT wildlife sanctuary. The density of elephants in the sanctuary was calculated at one animal per sq km.

The largest herd was found in the Kollegal range where 192 elephants were seen. The Yelandur range has 134 elephants followed by Punjur, K Gudi and Bylore forest with 128, 94 and 38 elephants there was an increase of 103 since the last census.

The census confirmed the presence of 62 males, 210 females, 60 calves and 115 sub adult elephants in Chamajranagara forest circle.

There were 258 pachyderms in Cauvery wild life division and 268 in the Kollegal wildlife division.

Many conservationists belive that the protection and improvement of the habitat and provision of food and water in forests led to the increase in their number.

Besides showing the trends in elephant behaviour and its numbers, the census was likely to throw up figures that would help in conservation of Asian elephants.

UNI