Review of wildlife census ...

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Wildlife Census-2004

Vision for The Future

Organisation

WILSET

Review of wildlife census
conducted in the year 2004

Tigers
Leopards
Saltwater crocodile
Gharial and Mugger
	Mahanadi River
	Similipal
Water Fowl
Nesting Olive Ridley turtles
Blackbuck

The results of population estimate of tigers, leopards, crocodiles, wetland birds, nesting Olive Ridley turtles, and Black buck carried out during 2004 are as follows:

Species	Date of Census	Area covered by the Census	Census highlights
Tiger	05-10 Jan.' 04	Entire State	· Orissa state holds a minimum of 192 tigers, comprising of 57 males, 75 females and 60 cubs. Compared to the year 2002, there is a total increase of 19 tigers. · Similipal, Sunabeda and Satkosia-Baisipali hold 101, 32 and 18 tigers, respectively. · There is a decline in the tiger concentration in north Similipal, and a corresponding rise in the south Similipal. This indicates that the habitat-factors are becoming less favourable in north Similipal for tiger.
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Leopard	05-10 Jan.' 04	Entire State	· The leopard number has increased from 457 (male 184, female 218 and cub 45, unidentified sex-10) in the year 2002 to 487 (male 196, female 248, cub 43) in the current census. · Ghumsur (North) has the best density of leopards which number 49. Similipal, Sunabeda and Satkoshia-Mahanadi hold 127, 36 and 34 leopards, respectively.
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Saltwater Crocodile	08-15 Jan.' 04	Bhitarkanika Sanctuary / National Park	· 1358 Crocodiles were counted · This is an increase by 3.8 % over 2003-results · The present population comprises of 525 Hatchlings, 303 Yearlings, 210 Juveniles, 100 Sub-adults and 220 Adults. · Six adults are above 18ft. long. · Kanika Range holds 84% of the entire present population.
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Gharial and mugger	15-20 Jan.' 04	Mahanadi River in Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary	·· The Satkosia Gorge has one surviving Gharial, and 64 Muggers. · The surviving Gharial is a male (size-3-3.5 m.) located in the Sanctuary between Binikei and Majhipada. · The Mugger Crocodiles have taken over from the Gharial in the Satkosia Gorge. · The Mugger population comprises of 10 Juveniles ( <150cm), 16 in the size range 151-250 cm, 25 of 251-350 cm and 13 above 350 cm body length.
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Mugger	9th-16th March-04	Similipal Tiger Reserve	·· In rivers of Similipal 83 mugger crocodiles were counted. The population consists of 22 of less than 1m length, 20 of 1-1.5m, 33 of 1.5-2.0m and 8 above 2.0m length. · River West Deo has 42 mugger and Khairi 20. There are 9 muggers in river Budhabalanga, 7 in Khadkei and 5 in East Deo.
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Waterfowl	11-15 Jan.' 04	Chilika lagoon, Bhitarkanika and Selected water bodies in 8 Wildlife Divisions and 3 Territorial Divisions	· Chilika, Bhitarkanika and Hirakud hold the highest concentration of waterfowls. · Chilika recorded total 8,66,477 birds representing137 species. This includes 85 migrant species. · Number of wintering Waterfowl in Chilika in 2004 was 1.9 times more (by number) in comparison to the year 2003. · Bhitarkanika recorded 1,41,871 birds representing 76 species which include 44 migrants. · Hirakud reservoir recorded 36,373 birds representing 27 species. This includes 16 migrants. · Balesore (WL), Baripada, Sunabeda (WL) and Satkosia (WL), Divisions recorded significant congregation of Waterfowl in various water bodies. · In Mayurbhanj students of North Orissa University joined in the census operation with the local forest staff.
Nesting population of Olive Ridley Sea turtles`	Top
	1st/2nd to 7th/8th March	Nasi-II island of Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary	· Mass nesting took place from 1st to 8th March when a total of 2, 17,091 nesting turtles were counted. · The maximum number of turtles were counted on these days.
	10/11th to 14/15th March	Gokharakuda- Kantiagada beach strip near Rushikulya mouth	· A total of 2,01,315 nesting turtles were counted during the mass nesting from 10th to 15th March.
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Blackbuck	25-26 March 2004	Buguda, Aska and Khallikote Ranges of Ganjam District (Ghumsur Southand Berhampur Forest Divnsions )	· Blackbuck habitat was surveyed by 31 census units. · The blackbuck population comprised of 212 males, 487 females and 87 young. Thus, in a total population of 786 blackbucks there are 27% males, 62% females and 11% young. · There is 42% increase in the population over the last population count of 551 blackbucks in 1998. · Buguda Range alone holds 56% of the total present population. Top