The Anamalai Tiger Reserve will undertake a pre-monsoon census survey to enumerate the population of all the animals. The week-long survey will begin on May 13.
The main objective of the survey, for which more than 150 ATR personnel, college students, wildlife enthusiasts and volunteers from non-governmental organisations will be deployed, is to ascertain the prey base of tigers, V.T. Kandasamy, Field Director of the Reserve, told The Hindu here on Monday. The survey will conclude on May 20.
During a census taken up earlier this year, the tiger population in the reserve was found to have almost doubled, going up to 23 from the last census figures of 13 in 2010.
Activists have called for more attention to be paid to the prey base to sustain the increased tiger population. The ATR spans 1,479 sq. km. and has six ranges in the three districts of Dindigul, Tirupur and Coimbatore.
The biannual survey is taken up to ascertain the animal population during summer and winter. Data would be collected on prey base, quality of habitat, fodder availability, growth of plants and other related parameters. The ATR staff and NGOs break into teams for survey. The staff will be trained by a biologist, he said.
The last census conducted in December of 2014 pegged the population of Spotted Deer at 1,450, elephants at 817, Indian Gaur at 1,858 and the Sambhar Deer at 6,100.
“We will analyse the data and compare it with the figures of the previous surveys. If the population of any animal shows abnormal decline, remedial steps will be initiated,” he said.
Those interested in taking part in the survey should contact the District Forest Officer (Pollachi) and Assistant Director, Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Pollachi, Pollachi Division, e-mail ID: atrbiologist@gmail.com, Telephone number: (04259) 235 3855, Fax No: (04259) 234 385.
They must be prepared to stay in the reserve for eight days. They must submit two photographs and the original ID cards such as aadhar/ passport/ voter card at the time of registration on May 13.
The week-long survey will begin on May 13 and conclude on
May 20
