(IN): Chakrashila langur census after 6 years

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Link: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080513/jsp/northeast/story_9246200.jsp

 

*Chakrashila langur census after 6 years*

 

A STAFF REPORTER

 

Lower Assam

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*May 12:* The project should have been named " spot the golden langur

contest " and the prize in the end will be a reliable population record of

the primate, which was last counted six years ago.

 

For about 24 days beginning May 22, forest officials and conservation

workers will crane their necks and strain their eyes for a glimpse of the

golden langur in Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary and reserve forests in

Kokrajhar, Dhubri and Bongaigaon districts and diligently jot down the

numbers in their notepads.

 

A forest official of Kokrajhar Wildlife Division said according to published

records available, the last golden langur census was conducted in the area

in 2002. A survey, hence, needs to be undertaken immediately, he said.

 

Scheduled to close on June 14, the project will survey Chakrashila along

with Parbatjhora, Haltugaon and Aie Valley.

 

Supported by the Bodoland Territorial Council, the exercise is necessary to

formulate a management strategy to carry out a systematic and technically

supervised counting method for Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary and the

surrounding areas.

 

The forest official said if the method is successful, it will be replicated

in other forest areas.

 

The reserve forests will be divided into blocks. An enumeration party

comprising three to four persons will be survey each block. " The block count

will be completed within three to six days depending on the size of the area

covered and the availability of enumerators, " the official said.

 

Enumeration will be recorded on a pre-designed format, which has been

approved by the technical experts. Only direct sightings will be recorded.

 

A half-day training workshop for the data enumerators — a team of forest

field staff, trained enumerators, college students and rural volunteers —

will be organised a week before the counting starts.

 

The specialists in the field of primates and ecological research will

supervise the programme.

 

" The northern population is currently being monitored by Jihosuo Biswas of

Primate Research Centre and his team. Their report along with the results

available from the counting in the south will at least give a clear picture

about the present status of golden langur, " the official said.

 

 

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