Chandigarh Administration to hold 3rd wildlife census in Sukhna sanctuary from Nov 20

The UT Forests and Wildlife Department has decided to carry out the third wildlife census in the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary from November 20.

Saurabh Kumar, Chief Conservator of Forests-cum-Chief Wildlife Warden, UT, said for the first time, the Sukhna Choe reserve forest, Patiala Ki Rao reserve forest and the Lake reserve forest would be included in the census, which would be completed in four to five days.

The Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) was providing all technical support to the department. A two-day training of the staff would begin on November 18, he said, adding that they had roped in environmentalists, representatives of NGOs and biology and zoology students from Panjab University for the survey. A workshop aimed to enhancing awareness and ensuring effective coordination among all stakeholders involved in the census activity would be held on November 19.

The first wildlife census was carried out in the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, spread over an area of 26 sq km in the catchment area of Sukhna Lake, in 2010. The second census could not be carried out in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent imposition of lockdown in the country. However, the second wildlife survey of the sanctuary was carried out in May 2021. As per the report of the WII, Sambar was the most abundant ungulate species in the sanctuary with the highest density similar to the Rajaji Tiger Reserve.

The main animals spotted at the sanctuary include sambar, chital, pangolin (anteater), wild boar, jackal, small Indian civet, jungle cat, porcupine, langur, rhesus monkey, Indian hare, common mongoose and three-striped palm squirrel. Leopard pugmarks were spotted at the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary while carrying out the second wildlife census.

In the first census, the team took three days to count the nine species of mammals and 65 species of birds by using direct evidence, including the animals and birds spotted in the area, and indirect evidence such as footprints and animal faeces.

As per the first census report prepared by the WII, the population of sambar in the sanctuary was between 1,000 and 1,200 and peafowl population between 900 and 1,100. However, leopards were not spotted directly, but their pugmarks were found.