Aurangabad: The state forest department has so far not issued any order related to annual wildlife census which takes place on Buddha Purnima and falls on May 26.
While the census did not witness any activity last year due to outbreak of Covid-19, evoking criticism, conservationists have demanded that the crucial activity can be carried out with the help of forest staffers without involving outside volunteers and experts.
Honorary wildlife warden Kishor Pathak said that the schedule of wildlife census should be modified considering the pandemic situation. “As there is limitation on manpower joining the census due to Covid-related curbs, the forest department should carry out the census over a period of one week instead of a single day. The census activity is important for knowing the health of overall wildlife and should not go unattended for second consecutive year,” he said.
As far as Marathwada is concerned, the census every year covers Gautala wildlife sanctuary from Aurangabad district and Yedshi Ramling wildlife sanctuary from Osmanabad district. The past census had recorded Chinkara, nilgai, jungle cat, monkeys, langurs, leopard, jungle cat, barking deer, hare, leopard, fox, jackal, bats, wild boar ,wolf, hyena, wild bear, black duck and hares, besides birds and other creatures at these places.
Divisional forest officer (wildlife) Vijay Satpute on Tuesday said that official orders on how to go about the wildlife census were awaited.
