Home
Elephant census in south India's forests
Calcutta News.Net
Sunday 6th May, 2007 (IANS)
A central government funded census of wild elephants will be conducted in the forests of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka for three days beginning May 8.
The census team includes officials from the state forest department, members from the local community and elephant lovers.
P.S. Essa, who led the Kerala census operations in 1993, 1997 and 2002, said the elephant census team has introduced significant changes in census operation and the survey is now based on more scientific principles.
He noted that the wild elephant population in Kerala had been growing over the years.
'In 2002, the census revealed that wild elephants in Kerala numbered between 3,600 and 4,000.' He told IANS.
Elephant expert Jacob Cheeran, however, pointed out that that the operation takes place just before the monsoon when elephants from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu migrate to forests in Kerala.
'During this time, there is serious shortage of water and temperatures in the forests in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are very high. As a result, there is large-scale migration of wild elephants from those states into Kerala,' said Cheeran.
Speaking to IANS, Koshy John, a tourist guide in Kerala who is also a member of the present census team, said: 'I am part of the team that would go deep into the Kerala forests in Thekkady.'
He said their team also included a Kerala forest official, a local tribesman and a member of an eco development society. 'I am told that it will take two days to reach the place where we will start looking out for wild elephants.'
Essa added that it was not enough to count the number of elephants. 'These things should form a part of a larger elephant management policy. If not, it will have no positive effect.'
 Email this story to a friend
Have your say on this story
|
 |
 |
- Vaiko protests attacks on Tamils in Sri Lanka, courts arrest
Chennai, Oct 10 (IANS) MDMK leader Vaiko Friday courted arrest here Friday, protesting against the central and state governments not doing enough to stop attacks against Tamils in Sri Lanka. [read story]
- India, China complete FTA feasibility study: Minister
New Delhi, Oct 10 (IANS) India and China have completed a feasibility study on their proposed Free Trade Agreement, a pact that will not only benefit them but also a number of other countries in the region, visiting Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng said here Friday. [read story]
- EU finally agrees on new rules for gas, energy markets
Luxembourg, Oct 10 (DPA) European Union (EU) energy ministers Friday agreed to new rules for its gas and electricity markets after a long and heated debate, diplomats said. [read story]
- Communal clashes claim three lives in Madhya Pradesh town
Bhopal, Oct 10 (IANS) At least three people were killed and 21 injured in communal clashes that broke out in Madhya Pradesh's Burhanpur town Friday, that also saw shops and houses being torched despite curfew being imposed, officials said. [read story]
- Chinese, Indian firms to sign contracts worth millions: Minister
New Delhi, Oct 10 (IANS) Chinese companies will sign trade contracts worth 'millions of dollars' with their Indian counterparts here Saturday, a Chinese minister said Friday in what appears to be the first major step by the leadership in Beijing to close the yawning trade gap between the two countries. [read story]
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
