Baripada: All preparations are in place in Mayurbhanj district for simultaneous census of elephants which would begin Tuesday in Orissa, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
In Orissa, the counting, which takes place every two years, would start in three forest divisions including Similipal National park and end Friday. All forest officials have arrived at their respective locations in this district, it was learnt. Temporary tree houses have been set up at vantage points of Baripada, Karanjia, Rairangpur forest divisions for the purpose.
Meanwhile, it was learnt that 84 elephants have died over the last six years in Similipal region alone.
According to 2015 census, there were 509 elephants in the district of which 337 were in Similipal sanctuary, 68 in Baripada division, 56 in Karanjia division and 48 in Rairangpur division. While giving details about the census, Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) deputy director Yagnadutta Pati said 84 units, having five members in each, have been formed to calculate the number of pachyderms over 900 sq km area of the sanctuary.
The unit members would follow two techniques to complete the census. The teams would adopt the traditional method in the first three days that include the assessment of elephant population in every five to nine sq km area.
On the last day of counting, the unit members would examine the elephant excreta to ascertain the exact number of jumbos present in a particular area.
The census report would be made public June 28, Pati said, adding it is not possible to predict whether the number has increased or decreased this time.
54 enumerator units in Kuladiha
Nilagiri: As many as 54 units have been formed under the leadership of forester Vivekananda Jena for elephant census in Kuladiha sanctuary under Nilagiri sub-division in Balasore district. The units, having two members in each, arrived at the sanctuary Monday. This is part of a nation-wide census and all techniques are being put into practice to make the report as accurate as possible, a forest official said.
The census would be conducted under the supervision of Balasore DFO Harshavardhan Udgata.
All the units members have arrived at their locations and have been provided with required equipment, Jena said, adding the enumerators would follow both direct and indirect methods of counting.
While one team would count elephants from 3 pm to 7 am from tree houses, another team has been trained to ascertain the elephant number from their excreta and this would be done from 7 am to 3 pm for the next four days, Jena said. Similarly, 11 other teams have been engaged to carry out the census in part of the sanctuary in Soro region.
State’s principal chief conservator of forests would publish the final report towards the month end, it was learnt. Assistant conservator of forests Shuvendu Bhuyan, Kuladiha DFO Laxman Pradhan and other senior officials are part of the census party. According to 2013 census, the number of elephants in the sanctuary was 93. However, it came down to 89 in 2015. PNN
