Elephant census begins in Assam

GUWAHATI: An elephant census has begun in Assam to determine the number of wild pachyderms in the state, a senior forest official said today.

The elephant census, which began yesterday all over the state, will go on for a week, state's Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) wildlife B S Bonal said.

He said the census work will be carried out state-wide involving people from the forest department, conservationists and NGOs.

"As the census work will be gigantic, everyone connected with conservation of wildlife including the NGOs, will be involved to determine the exact number of elephants through the direct visual contact basis," he said.

Elephant census was carried out in the state last in 2002 which revealed there were more than 5000 animals in the two national parks, Manas and Kaziranga and various other wildlife sanctuaries and reserve forests.

The official said the exercise will be carried out for a week and the final announcement will be made on February 28.

"The census is carried out state-wide also because of the fact that the elephants tend to migrate from one habitat to the other in search of food," he said.