Boudh: Elephant census started Wednesday across all ranges under the Nayagarh Mahanadi Wildlife and Boudh forest divisions. Officials are using different types of equipment including camera traps in all the elephant corridors in these two divisions for the census. According to available information, 36 platforms (machans) have been constructed in the four ranges under the Nayagarh Mahanadi Wildlife Division. The ranges are Kushang, Chhamundia, Banigochha (East), and Banigochha (West). Twenty-two platforms have been constructed in Kushang and Chhamundia ranges while 14 each have come up in Banigochha east and west ranges. Three Forest department personnel have been deployed in each of the platforms, Mahanadi division range officer Sansar Bargia informed.
Similarly, 45 platforms have been constructed across two ranges under the Boudh forest division. These include 18 platforms in Madhapur range and 27 in Purunakatak range. A total of 145 Forest department staff has been tasked to carry out the census. Officials said that most of the platforms have been constructed close to water bodies as the animals usually visit those regularly and it will be easy to do the headcount.
