Guwahati: A first of it’s kind exclusive leopard counting census in Assam in forest and non-forest areas has been initiated by North Kamrup Forest Division in leopard density areas of Amingaon that will kick off from 31st January,Monday.
The counting will be done through a camera trapping method with 50 cameras that will be installed in Sila Reserve Forest,Changsari, NIPER,AIIMS,etc. surrounding Amingaon area.
The DFO further said that the camera trapping will be done for a period of 24 weeks and data from each camera will be extracted at an interval of every seven days.
According to Divisional Forest Officer Sunnydeo Choudhary, the camera trapping will be done for a period of 24 weeks and data from each camera will be extracted at an interval of every seven days.
“A one week execution program has been planned by North Kamrup Forest Division for conducting the census that will involve verifying camera traps, study of maps, in-depth discussion with senior forest officials, volunteer participation plan, field survey and target location selection. During the week-long program, the officials of the division will discuss various aspects of the camera trapping mission with various stakeholders including district administration, police, village and education institutions heads and media in a detailed manner,” Sunnydeo Choudhury said.
During the week long program, the officials of the division shall discuss various aspects of the camera trapping mission with various stakeholders including district administration, police, village and education institutions heads and media in a detailed manner.
The camera trapping shall start from 7th February after layout of the detailed plan.
He further said that the Kamrup district administration will also be involved in the census and the forest department has targeted to cover 100 sq. km under North Kamrup Forest Division.
Assam Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya tweeted, “The 24-week camera trapping census will be the first of its kind in Assam! Sustainable development remains our commitment with priority to wildlife conservation too!”
The 24 weeks camera trapping census will be the first of it’s kind one in Assam! Sustainable development remains our commitment with priority to wildlife conservation too! @himantabiswa @CMOfficeAssam pic.twitter.com/uAokMCeroU
— Parimal Suklabaidya (@ParimalSuklaba1) January 30, 2022
