The post-monsoon winter season wildlife census to enumerate the population of herbivores and carnivores began in four ranges of Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) near Pollachi which is spread over 958 sq. km.
The census data will be compiled and submitted to the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
The census began in the four ranges namely Pollachi, Valparai, Manomboly and Ulandy at 6 a.m. on Tuesday and 64 line transects have been created for the purpose. One team comprising one forest staff, one volunteer and one anti-poaching watcher is in charge of each line transect.
The teams will perambulate the line transect and look for direct sight or indirect evidence in the form of excreta, pug marks, foot prints and scratch marks on tree barks. Data thus generated will be instantly recorded in the ecology app. The census will go on for seven days.