Digital Desk: The Assam Forest Department has embarked on a project to perform a leopard counting census. For the first time, the North Kamrup Forest Division has launched an exclusive leopard counting census in Assam's forest and non-forest regions, which will begin on January 31 in leopard density areas of Amingaon in Kamrup district.
Sunnydeo Choudhary, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), said that the counting would be done using a camera trapping approach with 50 cameras set in the Sila Reserve Forest, Changsari, NIPER, AIIMS, and other areas near Amingaon.
The DFO also stated that the camera trapping will take place for a total of 24 weeks, with data from each camera being taken every seven days.
"The North Kamrup Forest Division has established a one-week execution schedule for the census, which will include confirming camera traps, studying maps, in-depth discussions with top forest authorities, a volunteer involvement plan, field survey, and target area selection. During the week-long programme, division officials will meet with a variety of stakeholders, including district administration, police, village and education institution leaders, and the media, to discuss different facets of the camera trapping mission in depth," Sunnydeo Choudhury said.
Assam Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya tweeted, “The 24-week camera trapping census will be the first of its kind in Assam! Sustainable development remains our commitment with priority to wildlife conservation too!”
He went on to say that the census will involve the Kamrup district administration, and that the forest department has set a goal of covering 100 square kilometres under the North Kamrup Forest Division.
According to the forest authority, the camera traps will begin on February 7 when the entire strategy is laid out.
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