Trishna Sanctuary (Tripura), Dec 7 – Impressed by the growth of Bison population, the Tripura Forest Department is contemplating to undertake a population estimate of wildlife at the Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary soon. The bison number at the sanctuary stands at 112, according to the last wildlife population estimation conducted in 2005.
“We are happy to say that there has been an increase in the population of bisons at the Sanctuary as some young bisons were seen moving around inside the core area,” said Wildlife Warden Manoj Kanti Majumder here on Monday.
Forest personnel have recently spotted some young bisons moving around with their mothers at Chillpatra, the core area of the proposed national park for bisons at Trishna.
The department has already installed six lightning conductors to save the animals from the menace of being struck by lightning as four bisons died, being struck by lightning early this year.
He also said, the department is planning to undertake a population estimation of the wildlife to ascertain the exact number of bisons and other wild animals. Majumder informed that Kailia bamboo, which is found in abundance in and around the sanctuary, is considered as the best natural habitat for bison and cobra.
The State Government has already notified Trishna as a national park for bisons for its unique biodiversity stock but the final announcement is yet to the made. Out of a total 500 square kms, an area of 194 square kms has been notified as national park for bisons. Majumder said that the Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary, an ideal place for bisons and cobras, will get national tag for conservation of bisons, an endangered species very shortly.
According to the Wildlife Warden, there should be a snake park at Trishna, about 98 km from Agartala, to ensure safe breeding of Cobra.
“Three types – King, Spectacle and Monocacite Cobra are found at Trishna,” he said, adding that around 60 cobras were spotted during the 2005 wildlife population estimation.
He also informed that Cobra likes to take shelter at the root of Kailai bamboo which is found abundantly at Trishna. “It will be better if the government notifies a special zone or park for the snakes”, he said. Though there is no poaching incident during the past few years, Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary has got a special task force to protect the wildlife, he said.
However, the Wildlife Warden seemed pretty anxious about the future of the different wildlife species here since land encroachment for expansion of agriculture and cultivation of betel leaf is posing a threat to the wildlife conservation at the sanctuary.
