Mammal Survey 2011, Hosur Forest division
Hosur FD in collaboration with the local NGO, Kenneth Anderson Nature Society conducted the Mammal Survey in the ranges of Hosur Forest Division namely – Anchetty, Urigam, Denkanikottai, Javalagiri, Krishnagiri, Rayakottai and Hosur. Volunteers from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu participated in the synchronised survey. Each team with one or two volunteers and watcher/guard started on their pre-assigned beat in all ranges at 6.00 am exact so that no repeated data got recorded.
All volunteers underwent orientation program by the KANS range coordinators on the survey that covered the importance of conducting the survey, entering data during the survey, the survey methodology, the geography and history of the forests and the mammals in it, the do's and don't when in forest etc., The survey was divided into a 2 day event to collect direct and indirect evidence of the mammals.
On Saturday, 19th, the volunteers did a block count by walking in criss-cross fashion through the beat area in the morning and sat patiently by a waterhole to count the mammals in the evening. The next day, Sunday 20th, volunteers collected indirect evidences in the same beat area via block count strategy in the morning. They recorded all hoof/pug marks and carnivore scratch marks. Line transect method was followed to record the elephant dung in the evening.Overall the survey went smoothly and the data collected so far has been encouraging. Almost all the ranges saw good activity by the elephants with one team in the Denkanikottai coming across a herd of 17 elephants. Healthy Leopard activity was observed. Significant numbers of Gaur, Chital, Sambar and others were observed.
Images from the mammal survey are uploaded here : https://picasaweb.google.com/surveyphotos
The following are the reports that appeared in the newspapers:
Bangalore Mirror : http://www.bangaloremirror. com/article/10/ 2011032820110328000229803984dc 3a/What-did-you-spot-Elephant- or-dung.html
City Buzz : http://www.scribd.com/doc/52386766/CB-25-03-11-Page-12-13
All volunteers underwent orientation program by the KANS range coordinators on the survey that covered the importance of conducting the survey, entering data during the survey, the survey methodology, the geography and history of the forests and the mammals in it, the do's and don't when in forest etc., The survey was divided into a 2 day event to collect direct and indirect evidence of the mammals.
On Saturday, 19th, the volunteers did a block count by walking in criss-cross fashion through the beat area in the morning and sat patiently by a waterhole to count the mammals in the evening. The next day, Sunday 20th, volunteers collected indirect evidences in the same beat area via block count strategy in the morning. They recorded all hoof/pug marks and carnivore scratch marks. Line transect method was followed to record the elephant dung in the evening.
Images from the mammal survey are uploaded here : https://picasaweb.google.com/surveyphotos
The following are the reports that appeared in the newspapers:
Bangalore Mirror : http://www.bangaloremirror.
City Buzz : http://www.scribd.com/doc/52386766/CB-25-03-11-Page-12-13