Elephant census

Why in news?

Four States — Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand which comprise India’s most human-elephant conflict-prone region, have decided to count elephants synchronously.

Why this census is significant?

• This will be the first regional synchronous elephant census with an identical set of rules for direct and indirect counting methods.
• The direct elephant counting method is based on sightings of elephants.
•  In the indirect method, surveyors follow a dung decay formula for arriving at population estimation which is being used by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka at present.
• A variation of about 8% to 9% has been noticed between the two methods.

What are the advantages of synchronised census?

• According to the 2015 census, Odisha has 1,954 elephants, while Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal have approximately 700, 275 and 130 elephants respectively.
• The synchronised census will indicate the size, distribution, structure and density of the elephant population in the region.
• A simultaneously conducted census would eliminate underestimation, duplication.
• This approach helps to produce a good map on the distribution of elephants in different landscapes, highlighting the abundance and density of elephants.
• Synchronisation in the elephant census will lead to better regional planning.
• Elephants travel long distances and an exhaustive information base on regional elephant distribution will help plan a proper intervention for their conservation in the long run.
• The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has set up a committee that is trying to prepare a strategic action plan for the region.

Source: The Hindu