The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Wildlife census conducted at Guindy park

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 22, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Wildlife census conducted at Guindy park

P. Oppili

The seven-day survey began last Wednesday

CHENNAI: Wildlife authorities in the city for the first time conducted separate two censuses — one for the carnivores and the other for herbivores. The seven-day survey began last Wednesday.

On the first day, the census was dedicated to herbivores and the next it was for carnivores, said Ashish Kumar Srivastava, Wildlife Warden, Chennai. A total of 11 transect lines were drawn inside the Guindy National Park (GNP) on which the officials, enthusiasts and naturalists walked and recorded the movement of animals in the data sheet provided to them, he said.

Similarly, for the first time a survey on the habitat and vegetation of the GNP was also done. Under this, a sample plot, measuring a 15-metre radius, was marked every 400 metres where the survey was taken up. Canopy cover, predominant tree species, shrubs and herbs and the ground cover on the sample plots were studied.

With regard to herbivores census, the enumerators also did a `pellet count' — the droppings of deer and black buck have been recorded in the sheet, Mr Ashish said. The participants collected the pellets from every 400 metre inside the GNP. The Wildlife authorities also did a separate survey on the vultures in the GNP and also the human disturbance to the forest within the city, he said. Mr. Ashish said the work of compiling the data would be taken up on Wednesday and Thursday, after which it would be sent to the Field Director, Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.

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