Annual census at Sariska Tiger Reserve begins

The animals in Sariska Tiger Reserve have always been a centre of attraction among tourists and to know about the number of various animals in a reserve, the forest department conducts annual census. Various methods are employed to count the animals and the data is then analysed and a range showing minimum and maximum numbers of animals is drawn.

This year the annual wildlife census at Sariska Tiger Reserve began from Monday and the officials initiated the line transect method of counting. The line transect method is used primarily for counting herbivore animals.

"There was a time when census was conducted by sitting on tree tops or at some secure location, overlooking a water pond. The animals would come to the pond to drink water and their numbers would be counted. This would give us the numbers and the method was employed for decades. However, there was a fault in this system. It was based on the assumption that an animal would visit a water hole only once in a day (24 hours). Those who understand animals and their behaviour know it to be true only to a certain degree and thus our data would be a little corrupted," officials said.

However, a few years back, the forest department adopted the line transect method to count the animals. "We draw imaginary lines on the map and the forest staff follows it using a GPS handheld device. The entire area is divided in sectors wherein forest officials draw several line transects of similar distance from each other. The officials start travelling on foot at the same time and when they see any animal, its time and GPS position is marked along with the detail of the animal, like its specie and sex. Since animals are territorial, we eliminate recording of the same animal again to a certain degree and thus we get a more realistic number than we used to previously," officials said.