Jumbo census in December

TT, Siliguri, Nov. 16: The forest department will conduct a three-day survey in December to know the number of wild elephants in north Bengal.

V.K. Sood, the chief conservator of forest, wildlife (north), today said the census was being carried out after a gap of four years.

“We will carry out a survey across the forests of north Bengal next month to know the total number of elephants. The last elephant census was conducted in 2010,” he said.

According to sources, the elephant count normally takes place once in two years. Sood couldn’t give the reason for the forest department not conducting a census in 2012.

In the survey in 2008, around 450 wild elephants were found in north Bengal and two years later, the number went up to around 530. The foresters hope they will spot more elephants this time.

Sood said the next census was most likely to be held from December 17. “We have not finalised the dates for the census. But most likely, it would be done for three days, starting from December 17. The dates will be fixed only after we hold a meeting with forest officers and representatives of wildlife NGOs who will also participate in the exercise.”

Animesh Bose, the programme co-ordinator of the Siliguri-based Himalayan Nature and Adventure Foundation, said the census should help the forest department find ways to keep a track on straying elephants.

“Elephants raid forest villages and in many cases, they get killed or injured by people. There are also instances of elephants being run over by trains on railway tracks in the Dooars. Once the foresters get to know the total number of elephants, they should be able to keep the animals confined to the forests,’ said Bose.