Synchronised jumbo population census starts in 4 southern States
The Hindu
May 17, 2023
See link
https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/synchronised-elephant-estimation-begins-with-direct-counting-in-699-blocks-in-tamil-nadu/article66862193.ece
for photo.
The three-day synchronised elephant population estimation exercise began on
Wednesday, with direct counting of the pachyderms in 699 blocks, covering
five tiger reserves and forest divisions with elephant population in Tamil
Nadu.
A total of 1,731 staff of the Forest Department and 368 volunteers are
involved in the exercise, which is also being carried out simultaneously in
Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden Srinivas
R. Reddy said the block census (direct counting) held on Wednesday will be
followed by line transect survey (indirect counting) on Thursday.
Elephants coming to waterbodies will be estimated in the waterhole counting
to be held on Friday.
Mr. Reddy said the census data from places across Tamil Nadu will be sent
to Mudumalai Tiger Reserve for processing. Data from the adjoining forest
areas of two States will be harmonised to avoid duplication based on the
location and time of sighting.
According to him, the last synchronised elephant population estimation was
done in 2017, when 2,761 elephants were recorded in Tamil Nadu. Though the
synchronised survey is held every four years, the COVID-19 pandemic caused
a delay in resuming the exercise.
“The initial coordination among the States is that we are doing the
exercise on the same days. Second coordination is the pooling and sharing
of the census data,” he said.
Mr. Reddy said the data generated during the synchronised elephant
population census will be validated by the results of a camera trap-based
census, expected to be held in main elephant areas in June. The exercise,
which follows a method developed by the Wildlife Institute of India, is
going to be held for the first time, Mr. Reddy said.
https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/synchronised-elephant-estimation-begins-with-direct-counting-in-699-blocks-in-tamil-nadu/article66862193.ece
Synchronised jumbo population census starts in 4 southern States
The Hindu
May 17, 2023
See link
<https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/synchronised-elephant-estimation-begins-with-direct-counting-in-699-blocks-in-tamil-nadu/article66862193.ece>
for photo.
The three-day synchronised elephant population estimation exercise began on
Wednesday, with direct counting of the pachyderms in 699 blocks, covering
five tiger reserves and forest divisions with elephant population in Tamil
Nadu.
A total of 1,731 staff of the Forest Department and 368 volunteers are
involved in the exercise, which is also being carried out simultaneously in
Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden Srinivas
R. Reddy said the block census (direct counting) held on Wednesday will be
followed by line transect survey (indirect counting) on Thursday.
Elephants coming to waterbodies will be estimated in the waterhole counting
to be held on Friday.
Mr. Reddy said the census data from places across Tamil Nadu will be sent
to Mudumalai Tiger Reserve for processing. Data from the adjoining forest
areas of two States will be harmonised to avoid duplication based on the
location and time of sighting.
According to him, the last synchronised elephant population estimation was
done in 2017, when 2,761 elephants were recorded in Tamil Nadu. Though the
synchronised survey is held every four years, the COVID-19 pandemic caused
a delay in resuming the exercise.
“The initial coordination among the States is that we are doing the
exercise on the same days. Second coordination is the pooling and sharing
of the census data,” he said.
Mr. Reddy said the data generated during the synchronised elephant
population census will be validated by the results of a camera trap-based
census, expected to be held in main elephant areas in June. The exercise,
which follows a method developed by the Wildlife Institute of India, is
going to be held for the first time, Mr. Reddy said.
https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/synchronised-elephant-estimation-begins-with-direct-counting-in-699-blocks-in-tamil-nadu/article66862193.ece
