Camera trap to be used for wildlife census

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana wildlife department, for the first time, will use the camera trap method to get the exact number of animals in its sanctuaries. State wildlife department has tied up with the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to carry out wildlife census in the state through camera trap method. Initially, this method would be used to get the data of wildlife animals at Kalesar National Park in Yamunanagar district.

Chief wildlife warden Amarinder Kaur told TOI that the department has hired the WII for carrying out the statistical assessment of wildlife in the state's largest Kalesar National Park by using camera trap method.

"We have found significant increase in carnivores in Shivalik range in 2012 census with density methodology but for more accurate data we have to use advanced methods. The process would start from Kalesar after the monsoon," she added. Spread over around 13000 acre, Kalesar is Haryana's largest wildlife sanctuary sharing its boundaries with Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

The last wildlife census in Haryana was carried out in April 2012, which had confirmed that tiger was not present in any sanctuary but leopards were sighted in Morni and Kalesar.

In camera trap method, cameras installed in the core area of sanctuaries, activate itself when animals pass in front of it and click pictures.