Bhubaneswar: A rare melanistic leopard has been spotted during the ongoing camera trap tiger census in Odisha’s forest areas. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (wildlife) Susanta Nanda Wednesday shared some images of the melanistic leopard and said the census is throwing up some exciting and unexpected presence of wild fauna in the state.
However, the location of the big cat was not disclosed for safety concerns, primarily from poachers. The tiger census is underway in Similipal National Park, spread over 2,750 sq km area in Mayurbhanj district, in four phases. The tiger census is also being conducted across Odisha. The big cat survey through camera traps in Similipal started November 23, 2023 and will end January 18, 2024. The exercise is currently being undertaken by trained forest officials in 209 beats under 19 forest ranges of Similipal.
As many as 209 teams have been engaged in the survey. The authorities have decided to conduct the survey in segments. A sign survey was carried out from October 18 to 20 during which team members collected various sign data like pugmarks, scats, and direct sightings. The team that will conduct the survey will be monitored by range officers, assistant conservators of forests (ACsFs), and deputy directors of the Similipal Tiger Reserve to ensure exact enumeration of the big cat presence in the sanctuary, sources said.