The three-day wildlife census, with its focus on tiger population, will begin at the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctury (WWS) from Saturday, according to Forest officials. Apart from tigers, other carnivores like leopards will also be head-counted.Special training will be provided by experts on Friday for those who undertake the census.A 140-member team divided into groups and including wildlife enthusiasts, students of Mannuthy and Pookkode veterinary colleges and Forest Department personnel, will participate in the census.The WWS has been divided into 35 blocks for ensuring a foolproof census and each block would be scanned by a four-membr team", V.K.Sreevalsan, warden of the WWS, said.He told Express that "direct tiger sightings and evidences of indirect presence of animals would be registered", Indirect evidence like pug marks, food leftovers, scratches on trees, animal droppings, photographs and sounds of animals would be collected and registered.The pug marks will be collected using plaster of Paris. The collected data and stuff would be scientifically analyzed later for accuracy.The droppings will be collected in special kits and the clinical examination to decide the genotype of the animal will be conducted by veterinary experts.Assistant wildlife wardens and veterinary doctors will monitor the entire process." To ensure a foolproof census, there will be no entry for visitors into the sanctuary for three days from Saturday", K.G.Radhakrishnalal, assistant wildlife warden, Muthanga range, said.
The New Indian Express, 8th May 2009
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