Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

They had a pleasant surprise in store

Staff Reporter

Forest Department officials invite students to take part in tiger census

Coimbatore: A group of social work students from CMS College of Science and Commerce who conducted a ten-day rural camp for the Irula tribals in the hilly areas near Karamadai early this month had a pleasant surprise on being invited by Forest Department officials to participate in the forthcoming tiger census.

Social work

"We are going to take part in the tiger census that is to start in two months," said Anish Babu, who is studying for his master's degree in social work. He said that they would learn how to identify the animals based on their pugmarks. In keeping with modern methods of surveying the status of the animal population, cameras were also likely to be used in places frequented by the big cats.

Sigal Thomas, another student of the college who also participated in the rural camp, said that the Irula tribals in the region used bullock carts to carry goods, mostly provisions that they purchased for their own consumption in the villages of Gobanari, Alankandi and Alankandi Pudur.

"The Forest Department has a jeep and they often help sick tribals to go to hospital. They were very cooperative and treated us as one of their own," Thomas added. The forest officials were very helpful when the students wanted to go on a trek to the peak of a nearby hillock.

Besides giving permission for the journey through the forest, the officials guided the youngsters and protected them from wild elephants that roamed the area.

Rural camp

Sujith John, another postgraduate student of social work, said that the college had selected the area for the rural camp, because it was in a remote region with inadequate transport, electricity and communication facilities, besides a shortage of potable water.

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