Elephant census from May 15

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Mohanraj said that the elephant census will be conducted adopting the line transit method, which was used during the tiger census recently. On the first day, data will be recorded based on elephants’ sight.

On  second day, data will be recorded based on the signs of existence such as footprints, dung etc, A total of 20 routes of elephants were identified in Bhadra forest and the census work will be carried out on those places.

About 150 enumerators including Forest Department officials and volunteers will be participating in the census work, Mohanraj said. Elephant census programme was conducted in Bhadra forest in 2007, where it was estimated that there were 200 elephants in the region. The new census will ascertain on total number of elephants at present. Anti-hunting camps will be opened in Madalagodu, Hosalli, Saldana, Lalbagh, Bogase and Arashinakere regions soon, As many as  24 camps are already functional.