PRESS TRUST OF INDIA
Kendrapara, Nov 27: Incidents of man-animal conflict in human settlements surrounding the Bhitarkanika national park are on the rise due to a steady increase in the number of mammals in the park, officials said based on findings of the latest census report that was released Tuesday.
“By all indications, the number of mammals such as spotted deer and wild boars is on a steady rise because of a conducive environment and availability of a plentiful food base in Bhitarkanika,” an official said.
“The spotted deer and wild boars are itinerant species that stray into nearby human settlements on the close periphery of the park, vandalise crop and agriculture fields, thus triggering man-animal conflict,” officials said.
Lack of human interference in their habitation corridors has also been conducive for their rising numbers, they said.
Besides, there is an imbalance in the predator-prey base in Bhitarkanika. Unlike the Sundarbans, the Bhitarkanika mangroves are devoid of tigers and only estuarine crocodiles prey upon these animals, the DFO said.
According to the recently released census report at the national park, the number of spotted deer and wild boars is on a steady rise. The survey of the animals in the mangrove cover and wetland sites of the national park is being conducted for the second successive year.
Headcount is also being made of the number of Olive Ridley turtles engaged in annual mass nesting at the Gahirmatha beach. The Gahirmatha marine sanctuary comes under the administrative jurisdiction of the national park.
The enumeration of spotted deer, wild boars and hyenas has been undertaken to assess the numerical growth pattern of these animals living within the marshy wetland and mangroves of this Ramsar international wetland site, officials said.
The enumerators are carrying out the headcount on the basis of distinct footmarks of deer, boar and hyenas, Divisional Forest Officer, Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) Forest Division, Bimal Prasanna Acharya, said.
The annual headcount of estuarine crocodiles, winter migrant avian species, monsoonal migrant water birds is undertaken every year.
From observations made in the past by wildlife staff, the number of these mammals is rising.
Of the factors contributing to the rising graph, the rich and lush-green mangrove forest has turned out to be a favourable factor as it provides an ideal habitat for hyenas, boars and deer, the officials said.
As many as 3,085 spotted deer and wild boars were found inhabiting the national park as per last year’s census report.
However, sighting of other mammal species such as hyena, fishing cats, wolf, mongoose, jungle cat and fox was on the lower side.
While 1,872 spotted deer were found inhabiting Bhitarkanika during the last census exercise, 1,213 wild boars were found to have had made the forest their home.
As per last year’s census findings, apart from deer and boars, Bhitarkanika is home to nearly 2,000 additional mammal species like monkeys, hyenas, jackals and fishing cats.
As many as 4,740 mammals were spotted inhabiting the Bhitarkanika national park during last year’s enumeration, the officials said.
The breakup of the other mammals was monkeys – 1,522, jackals- 305, common langur- 39, otter- 38, sambar deer- 17, jungle cat- 11, fox- 10, mongoose- 7, wolf- 7, fishing cats – 3, hyena – 1.
