Animal census commences in Erode district forests

The six day census of forest animals began in the Sathyamangalam and Anthiyur forest areas in the district, forest department sources said here.
   
Besides the forest department officials, more than 100 students and forest ecologists were participating in the census, which began yesterday, Forest department sources said.
   
The total extent of forest cover in the district comes to about 2.28 lakh hectares. Different types of animals like elephants, tigers, bison, deer, bear and wild boar and panther are found in these forests, which are the part of the Western Ghats.
  
 The sources said they have sighted 12 tigers in the forest areas so far and correct population list would be available only after completing the census, which was taking once in three years.