Viable elephant population spotted

Viable elephant populations were spotted in most parts of the Periyar Elephant Reserve during a three day wild elephant survey that concluded last week. According to wildlife officials, 391 elephants were sighted in the Periyar Tiger Reserve and adjoining elephant corridors of the Ranni forest division, which forms the major chunk of the Periyar Elephant Reserve. In the Vallakadavu and Periyar renges of the Periyar east division, 70 elephants each were spotted. In Thekkady, 56 elephants were spotted, said Padma Mahanti, Divisional Forest Officer(DFO) of the east division.In the Periyar west division, the survey team members reported the sighting of 29 elephants,M.L.Thomas,west DFO said. This was 166 in Ranni division,K.Sharafuddin Kutty,Ranni DFO said. The officials reported the sighting of 18 adult tuskers un the Goodrikkal range, said S.Sreekumar,range officer.

 

(The Hindu, 14^th   May 2007)