Elephant census in 7 forest divisions in Odisha from May 26

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Angul, May 11:

The three-day biennial elephant census in Odisha across seven forest divisions would commence from May 26, forest officials said.

“A workshop on elephant census was conducted last Saturday and the DFOs, ACFs, Rangers, Forestors from Dhenkanal, Angul, Cuttack, Athagarh, Athamallik, Satakosia and Mahanadi forest divisions participated in it,” Angul Regional Chief Conservator of Forests (RCCF) Anup Kumar Nayak said.

The preparations are almost over and these officials were briefed about the census.

Notably, the last pachyderm census was held in 2012 which showed 633 jumbos across these seven forest divisions.

“The elephant census is conducted once in two years and it was scheduled to be done in 2014. As nationwide tiger census was held last year, the enumeration of tuskers was deferred,” Nayak said.

At least 1100 forest officials, volunteers and members of NGOs will be engaged in the headcount of the jumbos in these seven forest divisions spread across in around 2500 sq km area, sources said.

Despite death of elephants due to unnatural causes including poaching and electrocution, the officials are hoping the numbers to increase as several young ones have taken birth in the meantime.