A comprehensive 24-hour wildlife census is scheduled to be conducted across forest areas under the Jaipur wildlife division, commencing on Friday evening and coinciding with Vaishakh Purnima. The exercise will begin at 5pm on May 1 and continue until 5pm on May 2, as confirmed by officials.
Purpose and Methodology
Vijay Pal Singh, Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) at Zoo Jaipur, stated that the census is designed to generate an accurate estimate of the wildlife population in the Jaipur forest region. This data will enable better scientific planning for conservation and management efforts.
The census will employ the waterhole method, which leverages the natural tendency of animals to visit water sources, particularly during full moon nights. This approach makes observation easier and more reliable, ensuring higher accuracy in counting.
Monitoring Points and Staffing
A total of 59 water points have been identified for the exercise. These include nine locations in Nahargarh Biological Park, 19 in Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary, and 31 points spread across territorial forest ranges. The enumeration will be conducted by trained forest staff along with selected volunteers, who will record sightings of all wildlife species visiting the water points during the 24-hour period.
To ensure accuracy, machans have been set up near all identified water sources, and camera traps have also been installed for scientific monitoring. “The full moon period improves visibility, and with camera traps in place, we expect to capture reliable data on species including tiger and leopard,” Singh added.
Public Cooperation
The forest department has appealed to the public to avoid unnecessary movement in forest areas during the census period and to cooperate in wildlife conservation efforts. This measure is intended to minimize disturbances and ensure the success of the census.
