Field work completed, Aravallis wildlife survey result to be released by month-end

The Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, will reveal the result of the wildlife survey that was conducted in the Aravallis to assess the presence of major wildlife species in the region, especially leopards and other predators.

The field work for the survey, which started in February, has been completed. WII will be able to provide a clear picture of the area by the end of this month.

“We will take another month to release data related to the wild life concentration in the area. Our volunteers have already submitted their findings. We have to analyse the data and come to a conclusion before submitting the report,” said Bilal Habib, project head, WII.

This survey is significant since the last survey on wildlife was conducted in the state in 2012. Frequent reports of leopard deaths in the area propelled the Haryana government to evaluate the presence of prey species in the region.

Project investigators are Dr Bilal Habib and Dr Gautam Talukdar of WII. The result of the study will also be submitted to the Haryana forest department.

The proposal of the survey was developed on request from the chief wildlife warden of the state in November 2014.

Apart from assessing the presence of wildlife population in the area, the survey will also map the landuse land cover pattern of the Aravallis in the state.

An official spokesman said it would help the forest department in identifying and conserving important habitats for future preservation of wild animals in the Aravallis.

Result of the assessment will talk about the occupancy estimation of major carnivore species and other potential prey species for two important ecosystems that include Aravallis and Shivaliks. The field work of the survey recorded dense forest area, pugmarks and droppings of animals. The team used trail method to trace species as animals usually take a specific path.

During the last two months, the team discovered some very interesting facts related to the wildlife in the region. Around Damdama Lake, a 2.5-km-long trail of leopard pugmarks was discovered. Pug marks of hyena and the Indian fox were also found. The survey also found mongoose, jackal and neelgai in the region.

Additionally, the volunteers also found honey badger pugmarks in Mohatabad village of Faridabad. The exercise was carried out in five districts in the state.