WILDLIFE CENSUS
PANAJI
Officials and volunteers taking part in the Wildlife Census of Goa have found conclusive proof of the presence of multiple tigers in Goa’s forested eastern fringe during the census which will conclude on May 6.
While there have been no spottings during the week-long exercise, officials have informed that conclusive evidence in the form of fur, pugmarks and droppings have been found and will be analysed over the coming weeks and the final conclusions in the form of a report on the number of tigers in Goa will be published along with the national level figures.
The officials have informed that the camera traps that they have set up are also yet to capture any images of the apex predator. The previous census said there were between five to eight tigers in Goa with five being advertised as the more realistic figure.
The tiger census is being held after a period of five years and the forest department will hope to have greater success than last time around where the census offering evidence for between five to eight apex predators deep in the forests of the western ghats.
The current exercise is more comprehensive than the previous one with the forest officials dividing the State’s forests into quadrants and combing the forest sanctuaries mostly Mhadei, Molem and Netravali as part of the exercise.
Besides the tiger, the wildlife census has also sighted and found evidence of leopards, bison and other signature wildlife species whose presence has all been recorded.
Besides camera traps, the forest officials for the first time also use aerial drone cameras to try and spot movements of the tiger and other wild animals.
The wildlife census is carried out during the driest months as lesser vegetation as well as the presence of animals at watering holes makes them easier to spot.
