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Time of India

UT to conduct wildlife census, expand monitoring in forest areas

1 2 Chandigarh: In a comprehensive assessment of the wildlife in the UT territory, the Chandigarh administration will conduct a wildlife census this year. The census will start in October and is likely to be completed within six months. Although a similar exercise was conducted for counting wildlife during 2020-2021, according to the officials, that was a survey, whereas this will be a proper census. It will include details such as what kind of wildlife is in which area and their numbers. Along with wildlife, information about birds will also be collected in the census. "The census will include the count of all species, different sub-categories of species, and their spread across the UT. Apart from the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary , this census will be completed in the Sukhna catchment area (in Chandigarh's jurisdiction), the forest area along Rao of Patiala, Dadwa forest, and other forest areas. This census will be completed in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute," said a senior UT official. The administration also plans to install more cameras to capture wildlife in Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary to spot the movement of wildlife, particularly any new additions. Last year, a leopard was captured in the cameras installed here to capture wildlife. Currently, cameras have been installed near some check dams, but to keep getting information about regular wildlife growth and movement, it has been decided that the forest department will install more such cameras in Nepali and Kansal forests. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How can a 3-month-old get cancer? Please help! Give Hope India Donate Now Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary in Chandigarh has a variety of wildlife. It also has the presence of sambhar, wild boar, and leopard. Many times, not only sambhar but other wildlife also come from the forest area to the urban area. Chandigarh became greener over a span of a decade, with its tree cover increasing by more than 100% and forest cover increasing by 44.84% between 2013 and 2023. According to the latest India State of Forest Report (ISFR-2023) from the Forest Survey of India, the tree cover stood at 10 sq km, which increased to 21.18 sq km, an increase of 11.18 sq km, translating into more than 111% decadal growth. During the same decade, the forest cover in the city increased from 17.26 sq km to 25 sq km, an increase of 7.74 sq km. 'Tree cover' refers to the area covered by trees outside recorded forest areas. **BOX** Total forest area (in hectares): - Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary – 2610.99 - Lake Reserves Forest – 105.57 - Sukhna Cho Reserve Forest – 387.12 - Patiali-ki-Rao forests – 136.19 - Forest area at Brick kiln Manimajra – 5.53 - Total – 3245.30 MSID:: 120829729 413 |