RANCHI: In a first, Rapid Faunal Survey is being conducted in Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) to identify the micro and small animals. According to PTR officials, it will help in assessing the diversity of animals present there and plan accordingly.A rapid faunal survey is a scientific assessment of the animal species in a specific area. It uses a variety of techniques to collect data about the species, including observations, sampling, and data analysis. GIS expert Manish Bakshi said that a joint team of PTR and Zoological Survey of India has been roped for to the job since August last year which is expected to be concluded by April this year. They will compile a joint report of the survey conducted in all the three seasons and submit it to the PTR official, he said.“The Rapid Faunal Survey is being conducted by PTR in association with the Zoological Survey of India. This survey will be conducted in three phases in all three seasons. Survey for rainy and winter season has already been concluded while it will be started soon for summer season, which is expected to be concluded by April this year” said the GIS expert.According to Bakshi, the purpose of the survey is to get all information about the types of small and special creatures present in this area apart from big animals.“Though, the region is primarily known for tiger, elephant, leopard, deer, jackal, bear, bison, and wolf, but it is yet to be known that how many types of small animals are present here,” said Manish Bakshi. Since, micro fauna is also an important part of the eco system, hence, their survey is being done on the basis of which a report will be prepared and handed over to the PTR officials, he added.Besides the Rapid Faunal Survey, PTR in association with the district administration is also ensuring vaccination of nearly 2 lakh cattle living in more than 180 villages located adjacent to the reserve area. According to PTR officials, there is always a possibility that the cattle, freed by the villagers in the reserve area for grazing, carry diseases with them that may spread to the wild animals.Meanwhile, presence of a tigress has been confirmed by Hyderabad based Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology making a total count of big cats in PTR to six. Scat of the suspected tigress was sent to CCMP for examination which has confirmed the presence of the tigress in PTR prompting the officials to issue high alert in the reserve.
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