BHUBANESWAR: A sign survey, in which pugmarks, scraps and other marks are recorded to ascertain the density of herbivores and number of carnivores, will be carried at Satkosia Tiger Reserve (STR) on May 11. The information obtained from the one-day survey will be collated to make a final assessment of the animal density in the reserve, official sources said.
The STR authorities have earmarked 82 transact lines (routes within the reserve) for the survey. The personnel to be engaged in the survey will follow the transact lines. While Mahanadi wildlife division has identified 37 lines, Satkosia wildlife division has earmarked 45 lines.
"We will take into account carnivore signs such as pugmarks, scats, scraps and other marks, while for herbivores direct sighting will be recorded. All forest guards, foresters and rangers have been provided training for the purpose," said divisional forest officer (Mahanadi wildlife division) Anshu Pragyan Das.
It will take at least two weeks to collate the data and come out with the results.
The elephant census all over the state will begin in the last quarter of May. The STR authorities have prepared 98 units in 82 beats to carry out the census. "We are planning to involve people of Eco Development Committee (EDC) and interested students of colleges in the elephant census. We intimate the nearby colleges and ask them to send students, who take interest in wildlife to assist the forest staff in the census," said Das. She added that elephants would be counted from fixed points such as manchan (platforms), waterholes and water bodies.
In last one month, STR has recorded arrest of 16 persons in connection with poaching. It has formed 10 EDC also to ensure protection of wild animals. "Anti-poaching camps are active in STR to check poaching," said Das.
