Forest Dept carries out six-day second wildlife census in reserve forest with support of Dehradun instituteLeopard pugmarks spotted at Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary

Dushyant Singh Pundir

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 10

Leopard pugmarks were spotted at the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary while carrying out the second wildlife census at the reserve forests.

Debendra Dalai, Chief Conservator of the forest-cum-Chief Wildlife Warden, UT, said the Department of Forest and Wildlife, conducted the survey at the sanctuary. During the exercise, a good number of direct sighting of wild animals were recorded. Besides, indirect evidence such as pugmarks of leopards and other animals were also found, he added.

The survey, which was started on May 5, ended today.

Dalai said the data would be sent to the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, for further analysis. The six-day detailed survey included a survey using the line transect method, sign survey and point count survey.

“Besides the detailed survey at the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, a survey was also conducted to evaluate the species richness in other forest areas,” he said.

On the request of the UT Forest Department, the WII, Dehradun, had agreed to provide necessary technical assistance to conduct the exercise and on April 22, a team of scientists from the WII had visited Chandigarh and conducted training and hand-holding of the staff of the department, he added.

Nearly a fortnight ago, a leopard was caught in a camera trap installed near a water body in Kansal forests. The trap had been laid by the WII, Dehradun, as part of the wildlife census to be carried out by the UT Forest Department.

Last year in March, a leopard had strayed into Sector 5

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