21 teams engaged in wildlife census at sanctuary

NAGAPATTINAM: The forest department of Nagapattinam district carried out annual wildlife census operation at Point Calimere (Kodiakarai) wildlife sanctuary taking the help of students,researchers and volunteers.

The two-day census, undertaken by 21 teams, commenced on Saturday.

The sanctuary, situated on a 20 sq.km area of dry evergreen forests, serves as the abode for Black bucks, chitals, feral horses, wild boars, olive ridley turtles and about 200 rare species of colourful birds.

Nagapattinam District Wildlife Warden Ramasubramanian led the census operation. Ornithologist from Bombay Natural History Society Dr Balachandran, Forest Ranger Vedaratnam and other officials guided the teams.