The state forest department will conduct a wild elephant census for three days from May 17. The last such exercise was conducted in 2017.
State forest SecretarySupriyaSahu said the census will be done in coordination with all the southern states Nadu, Andhra,Keralaand Karnataka. This is the first time that a synchronised elephant census will be conducted, she said.
Chief Wildlife WardenSrinivasR Reddy said the census will cover 465 blocks in 25 forest divisions in Tamil Nadu. Anti-poaching watchers, forest watchers, forest guards, foresters, rangers and volunteers from non-governmental organisations will be involved in the data collection process.
Wildlife officials have prepared a manual for conducting the census, which has been sent to all 25 forest divisions in the state, he said.
Wildlife authorities, forest department biologists and experts train the field staff and volunteers from NGOs on the census process.
Once the data for Population estimation of wild elephants is collected, it will be sent to Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in the Nilgiris. They have been entrusted with the responsibility of compiling the data