[1]The recently concluded integrated elephant census in four south Indian states shows that Mudu-malai and Sathyamangalam continue to support a healthy population of the jumbos. In fact foresters are hoping for a marginal increase in their elephant numbers.
The synchronised census, done once in five years, was conducted across south India on the dir-ective of the ministry of environment and forests.
Significantly, the enumeration of the jumbos was not restricted to national parks and wildlife corridors but covered even non-reserve areas and buffer zones as elephants are migratory animals.
While around 200 elephants were directly sighted in the Satyamangalam forests , data from other interior parts was still being compiled, revealed Mr N. Sathish, district forest officer, Sathyamangalam.
The bonus was sighting of four tigers during the census, according to him. Around 20 elephants were sighted in the Theni forests, added sources.
The census was conducted using the block count, line transect dung count and waterhole count methods, explained Mr K.V. R.K. Thirunaranan, founder, The Nature Trust.
“But we need more scientific studies about the biological aspects of the jumbos as they play a major role in the conservation of forests.
When compared to other countries we don’t have a proper documentations on our forest wealth, ” he lamented.
Elephant experts Dr Ra-man Sukumar of the Indian Institute of Science and Mr Ajai Desai guided wildlife personnel on the dos and don’ts at the pre- census camp held at Bandipur, adjacent to the Mu-dumalai tiger reserve.
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