The Hindu : Karnataka News : Peacock census at Bankapur

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Friday, Jan 25, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Peacock census at Bankapur

Girish S. Pattanashetti

It is for the first time that such a census is being carried out

PERCHED ATOP: At the Bankapur Peacock Sanctuary.

HUBLI: The Forest Department with the assistance of experts in biodiversity from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, will conduct a peacock census at the Bankapur Peacock Sanctuary on Sunday.

Although being carried out on a trial basis, it is said to be the first time that a census of pea fowls is being conducted in the country.

An area of 147 acres around the historical Bankapur Fort was declared “Conservation Reserve” in August 2007 in view of the presence of a large number of pea fowls there.

A few local environmentalists had done some work at Bankapur and brought up the issue before the officials concerned.

Some of the elected representatives had also made efforts to get the area declared a peacock sanctuary by taking up the issue at the appropriate level.

According to a rough estimate, the number of pea fowls in the sanctuary is approximately more than 1,000. However, so far no scientific study had been carried out to ascertain the exact number.

“In some of the meetings of the advisory council of the department, the need for a census was felt as it would not only be useful for stepping up conservation steps but also help researchers,” an official from the Forest Department who didn’t want to be named said.

Subsequently, some biodiversity experts from the Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES) of IISC, including Harish Bhat, came forward to carry out a census and a programme was worked out.

Line Transect Method

“The Line Transect Method usually used while conducting study on birds will be followed during this census. There would be five transect lines and 10 to 15 volunteers who would carry out the census,” the official said.

Prior to the census, a training programme of around two hours has been planned on Saturday for the volunteers who would be taking part in the census.

The Forest Department would be repeating the exercise before arriving at a number on the number of peacocks.

According to experts, Bankapur is considered to be a safe haven for pea fowls because of its topography.

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