Week-long tiger census begins in Odisha today

Week-long tiger census begins in Odisha today

Context:

Week-long tiger census in Odhisa will begin on 16th February 2018

About the Census:

• The week-long census that coincides with the national tiger census will be carried out in all forest divisions.
• Both direct and indirect methods will be used to ascertain the status of tigers in the State.
• Unlike earlier, the Odhisa Government has brought the entire Similipal Tiger Reserve, which houses the State’s largest tiger population, under the scope of the census.
• After completion of the week-long census operation, the data will be shared with the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest.

Additional Information:

• On January 19, a dolphin census was conducted across six coastal divisions of Odhisa
• The number of endangered Irrawaddy dolphins in the Chilika Lake was 114.
• The dolphin population in the State rose to 469 from 450 in 2015.
• A total of 307 dolphins were sighted in the Bhitarakanika National Park.
• Of these, 108 were Indo-Pacific dolphins and 62 were Indian humpbacks.