Chennai: Volunteers spot 31 blackbuck during annual wildlife estimation at Guindy National Park
P Oppili | TNN | Updated: Mar 13, 2019, 12:47 IST
Enumerators spotted 87 spotted deer in the park.CHENNAI: Wildlife officials spotted 31 blackbuck and 87 spotted deer during the annual wildlife estimation at Guindy National Park and Raj Bhavan reserved forest last week.
Chennai wildlife warden C H Padma said six transect lines were drawn in the park for enumerators to pass through. Teams make a note in the data sheet provided on sighting an animal or reptile.
Apart from blackbuck and spotted deer, enumerators recorded Indian jackals, common mongoose, monitor lizards and star tortoises in different parts of the park.
Padma said all star tortoises seized at the airport in the last couple of years were housed in the park.
The transects were covered early in the morning and in the evening for two days. Estimation will be carried out by distance sampling method using the data collected during the walk, she said.
Last year, participants directly sighted 14 blackbuck and 60 spotted deer.
Later, when the data was analysed 55 blackbuck and 159 spotted deer were recorded in the park, Padma said.
A total of 15 student volunteers along with an assistant professor from AVC College, Mayiladuthurai, took part in the exercise.
Wildlife officials have been paying special attention to the blackbuck population following the introduction of jackals, their chief predators, here a decade ago. Officials said the number of jackals in the park has increased to 80 over time.
Chennai wildlife warden C H Padma said six transect lines were drawn in the park for enumerators to pass through. Teams make a note in the data sheet provided on sighting an animal or reptile.
Apart from blackbuck and spotted deer, enumerators recorded Indian jackals, common mongoose, monitor lizards and star tortoises in different parts of the park.
Padma said all star tortoises seized at the airport in the last couple of years were housed in the park.
The transects were covered early in the morning and in the evening for two days. Estimation will be carried out by distance sampling method using the data collected during the walk, she said.
Last year, participants directly sighted 14 blackbuck and 60 spotted deer.
Later, when the data was analysed 55 blackbuck and 159 spotted deer were recorded in the park, Padma said.
A total of 15 student volunteers along with an assistant professor from AVC College, Mayiladuthurai, took part in the exercise.
Wildlife officials have been paying special attention to the blackbuck population following the introduction of jackals, their chief predators, here a decade ago. Officials said the number of jackals in the park has increased to 80 over time.
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