Elephant census, India

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Focus on Assam

Elephant population on the rise: Census report

The age structure-wise composition of the elephant population showed 51 per cent adult, 20 per cent sub-adult, 12 per cent juvenile, and 17 per cent calf – said to be normal for a healthy viable population. The male-female ratio and its percentage were found to be 1:1.2 and 45 per cent: 55 per cent respectively.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detail...mar3112/state06

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Focus on Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu:

Elephants to be counted this summer

The elephant census will be conducted in three states – Karnataka, Kerala and TN— on the same day since these states share Protected Areas wherein the elephants crisscross political boundaries. To avoid duplication, all three states will commence the counting of pachyderms on the same day. “We have received instructions from the MoEF and we are working on the dates to conduct the elephant census. A meeting of officials from Tamil Nadu and Kerala will be called in Bandipur to discuss the census details. We are also planning to hold a census with forest divisions in Maharashtra and Andra Pradesh since these areas have received elephants from Karnataka in the recent past,” Mr B K Singh, Wildlife PCCF and Chief Wildlife Warden said.

The elephant census will be conducted in three phases – direct count – dung count and counting of elephants at waterholes. The volunteers will walk the forests of the state, both protected and non-protected areas to record the elephant signs.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/node/117186

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Focus on Balasore, Mayurbhanj, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand

Elephant Census to begin from June 1

Sources said a total of 294 units comprising three members each, including forest personnel, have been formed. While 57 units will be deployed at Baripada, 89 teams would count the elephants in Similipal, followed by 59 at Rairangpur, 67 at Karanjia and 22 units at Balasore division.

The enumerators would record the sighting of elephants including the age group as to whether the elephant is an adult, sub-adult or juvenile, herd size and sex of the animal. This would help in assessing the health of the elephants. “The dung count method adopted earlier has been stopped due to uneven numbers,” the RCF added.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/elephant-census...809-60-117.html

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Focus on Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Goa:

Elephant census in six states to begin on May 22

Unlike the Elephant Reserve Census, where enumeration is restricted to counting of pachyderms in reserve forests, the synchronised census will be conducted in forest, non-forest, reserve and non-reserve forest areas (landscape-wise), said Ajay Mishra, Chief Conservator of Forests, Project Elephant, Karnataka ...

The census will be conducted using three methods — block count, line transect dung count and waterhole count, said Surendra Varma, research scientist, Asian Nature Conservation Foundation.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/249560...ates-begin.html

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Focus on South India:

Elephantine problem

Teams led by elephant experts and research officers will scan the forest reserves and corridors to enumerate elephant numbers. The collated figures will show whether the numbers have either increased or decreased in five years. It will be indicative of the elephants' future ...

Southern India is the only lung space available for this endangered animal. Let's not destroy and fragment its corridors.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/elephantine-problem/259964-3.html

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The 3-day count is under way ...

Focus on South India:

Elephant count begins with hope that numbers are up

On the first day, a direct count will be carried out. "The numbers will be corroborated on the second day with line transects, in which forest officials and volunteers will walk along a 2km line to check dung density," the official said. "On the third day, there will be a count of elephants at waterholes and they will be classified as male, female or calves."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/en...ow/13369465.cms

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Focus on Bhadra wildlife sanctuary:

72 jumbos spotted on day 1 of census

In all the blocks, on the first day of counting they have been asked to record direct sighting of the elephants and also to look into the age and sex ratio. Each team has walked minimum 15 km to spot the elephants and at Lakkavalli, which is very near to Bhadra backwaters, they have found 43 elephants. Fifteen elephants were spotted at Tanigebylu, 10 at Muthodi range and four at Hebbe.

Krishna said they are yet to receive details of the elephants, including sex ratio and number of adult, sub adult and juvenile elephants.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hu...ow/13402324.cms

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Focus on Karnataka:

Elephant Census 2012: State forests see dip in population

"During the last census, Karnataka registered elephant population range of 5,600 to 5,900, which was a record. This year, we may sight less due to multiple factors. However, a final conclusion can be drawn only after getting the exact count”. On Tuesday, census was conducted in 59 of the total 105 blocks, by 180 enumerators including forest personnel and people from NGOs in Bandipur National Park by block count method. In Nagarhole, the census was conducted in about 50 blocks with the help of 140 personnel.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/ci...-population-974

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Good start to jumbo census in Ch’nagar, Periyapatna

According to the forest officials, at least hundreds of elephants were spotted during the early morning exercise.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/251501...us-chnagar.html

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Jumbo census concludes

COIMBATORE: Three-day elephant census in the district concluded on Thursday. As many as 200 forest staff and representatives from NGOs participated in the census in six ranges in Coimbatore district. The forest staff and NGOs had spot the marks of elephants near water holes. They collected information in the form of elephant dung, peeling off of the bark from trees. "We have collected the evidence and will announce the number of elephants in Coimbatore district within a week," said V Thirunavukkarasu, district forest officer, Coimbatore.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/co...ow/13505806.cms

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24 jumbos spotted in Kushalnagar

As many as 24 elephants were spotted on Thursday in Kushalnagar forest range, during elephant census.

Nine pachyderms were found at Dubare reserve forest, eight at Meenukolli and four in Anekadu. Of the lot, 20 were male and four were female elephants.

Forest department and Kushalnagar zone had held the elephant census for three days, which ended on Thursday.



http://www.deccanherald.com/content/252419...ushalnagar.html

[spiritedlulu]

Kodagu has 650 jumbos

Coffee plantations are becoming popular haunts for elephants. Almost half the number of elephants all over Kodagu district have been found in coffee plantations.

Brijesh Kumar Dikshit, chief conservator of forests, told Deccan Herald that although the final figures of the elephant census conducted in the last three days would be revealed only after a thorough study, the estimated number in Kodagu district is 650. “The district recorded 404 elephants in 2010, in contrast,” he added.


http://www.deccanherald.com/content/252460...650-jumbos.html

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Focus on Jharkhand:

Elephant census from June 1

After a gap of five years, an elephant census will be conducted in Jharkhand and three other states from June 1 in a three-day long exercise. "As per the Central government guidelines, the census will be taken up between June 1 and 3 in Jharkhand and three other states, having contiguous habitat," Conservator of Forest (Palamau Tiger Project, Betla Core Area in Palamau) Premjit Anand, told PTI. The last elephant census was taken up five years ago, he said. Members of the counting units will spread out in the Palamau Tiger Project at Betla and other forest areas from June 1, he said, adding that they would take positions at selected spots from 5.30 am to 4 pm on the days. "Fixed points have been identified to observe elephants at water holes, towers, hideouts and in other places where visibility of elephants are frequent. "Details will be noted down, like whether the elephant is an adult or a juvenile or a calf and whether the elephant is a tusker. Then the compilation work will be taken up," Anand said. To avoid duplication of the pachyderms, forest guards have been trained to note down the exact time when an elephant is spotted and this will be coupled with other ways to minimise errors. "Suppose a team spots a herd of four elephants at one spot at 3 pm and another team sees the same number at 4 pm then they would be the same elephants," he said on distance, which is considered as a factor during counting.

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news...-1/1003913.html

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Focus on Mudumalai and Sathyamangalam:

Rise in Mudumalai, Sathyamangalam elephant population likely

The recently concluded integrated elephant census in four south Indian states shows that Mudu-malai and Sathyamangalam continue to support a healthy population of the jumbos. In fact foresters are hoping for a marginal increase in their elephant numbers.

http://www.asianage.com/chennai/rise-mudum...tion-likely-179

Dr. Raman Sukumar, who was involved in the August 2011 national elephant census in Sri Lanka, "guided wildlife personnel on the dos and don’ts at the pre- census camp ..."

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Focus on Jharkhand:

103 jumbos in Palamu Tiger Reserve buffer zone: Census

PTR director Premjit Anand said many calves had been spotted in the Garu East, Garu West and Bareysarn range. A herd of 40 to 42 elephants with about 12 calves were found moving around in these areas.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/en...ow/13792459.cms

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Focus on Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary:

Census finds Dalma jumbos increasing

According to the reports with Kamlesh Pandey, Divisional Forest Officer, Ranchi wildlife division, as many as 157 elephants were spotted during these two days out of which 38 were calves (baby elephant). The census was scheduled for three days but a mock census was conducted on the first day as many of the trackers were participating for the first time.

“The general census of animals which was conducted in 2011 stated that there were 127 elephants last year. This elephant census revealed that there is a significant increase in the number of elephants and especially calves. It shows that Dalma is one of the favourable habitats of tuskers due to its water resources and fruit bearing plants,” said Pandey.

http://dailypioneer.com/nation/70677-censu...increasing.html

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Focus on Saranda:

Jumbos flourish in Saranda

During a count in 2010, 139 elephants were traced within the forest ... The latest census, carried out on June 1, 2 and 3, found 146 of the gentle giants.

Explaining why the elephants had flourished in Saranda, divisional forest officer K.K. Tiwary said the increase in the elephant population was due to a positive natural environment that existed in the area.

“The bounty of natural resources like innumerable water bodies and healthy green cover has helped the elephant population to grow. In fact, availability of more than adequate number of water bodies stops the animals from migrating to other jungles in search of fodder and rather, elephants from other jungles tend to venture into Saranda,” said the DFO.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120608/jsp/...ry_15583625.jsp

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Focus on Mudumalai:

Mudumalai has 1,000 elephants

Interestingly, the male-female ratio which stood at 1:16 in the last census, today stands at around 1:10 possibly as a result of the conservation strategies which have improved the jumbos’ habitat, Mr Haza adds.

“Over the years MTR has adopted various strategies for conservation of the elephants’ habitat, which include protecting the water resources, ensuring food and setting up anti-poaching camps deep inside the jungles.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/ci...0-elephants-040

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Focus on Odisha:

Angul boasts of highest number of jumbos

The latest census report of elephants in Odisha ... the state has witnessed a jump in pachyderm population, from 1886 in 2010 to 1930 ...

The increase has been reported notwithstanding 149 elephant casualties, primarily due to poaching and electrocution, during the last two years, officials said. In 2009-10, 51 elephants died while the pachyderm casualty in 2010-11 and 2011-12 was 83 and 66 respectively. In 2012-13, at least 21 elephants have died, officials added.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/en...ow/14533986.cms

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Focus on Andhara Pradesh:

Big deal: Jumbo numbers go up
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/ci...-numbers-go-605

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Focus on Odisha:

An elephantine riddle

When the Odisha government announced an increase in the elephant population in the state three months ago, quite a few were surprised. The findings showed 1,930 pachyderms now lived in the state, compared to 1,886 two years ago. Paradoxically, Odisha has on an average been losing one large mammal each week, leading wildlife experts to question the government's figures.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bh...ow/16511384.cms

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Focus on Karnataka:

Karnataka is now home to 6,072 elephants

The Karnataka Elephant Census 2012, conducted by the state forest department in May last year and carried out by the Centre for Ecological Sciences, IISc, showed an increase in the state's elephant population since 2010 when their number stood at 5,800.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/en...ow/18361115.cms