Kerala   

Wildlife census begins

A survey of animals and its habitat titled `Monitoring Tigers, Co-predators, Pray and their Habitats' began in Silent Valley National Park, Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary and other forests of the district on Monday.

According to Conservator of Forest and Wildlife C.S. Yalakki, the eight-day-long census of animals and study of their habitat is part of a nation-wide survey conducted with help of methods developed by the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun.

The data collected during the survey will be analysed by the institute to assess the presence or absence of wildlife in a particular area and the health of its habitat, he said.

This is the first time that the monitoring of carnivores like tiger, leopard, wild dog, bear, hyena, jackal and fox are done along with its preys like chital, sambar, gaur, barking deer, elephant, wild pig, langur, peafowl, hare, cattle, etc. has been undertaken.

A survey on vultures has also been undertaken, as they were facing extinction.

The survey will also monitor the vegetation, biotic interferences, human disturbances etc., of an area where deforestation and other forms of destruction of habitat has taken place.

The survey will reveal the areas that were cleared for ganja cultivation or any other destructive activities in the forests of the district, Mr. Yalakki said.

Though the survey teams have been given protection, there are isolated incidents of attack by animals. One such incident took place on Monday at Parambikulam when a wildlife warden was chased by an elephant. Wildlife warden Shravan Kumar escaped with minor injuries and was taken to a hospital at Pollachi in Tamil Nadu for treatment.

Mr. Shravan Kumar said that he was attacked when he went near a baby elephant that was found dead in Orukkomban Range at Muzhu Vazhachal in Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary. The mother of the baby elephant that was standing close by chased the warden. He was saved due the presence of mind of his jeep driver who started the vehicle and pulled him inside, Mr. Shravan Kumar said.

G. PRABHAKARAN

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