The Forest Department has completed its wildlife abundance study in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) to determine extent of presence of predators, prey and vegetation.
Unlike in the past when volunteers were trained and deployed, this time, the Department carried out the study with its own staff.
About 150 personnel were mandated with the task of analysing the extent of presence of tigers, co-predators including leopards, striped hyenas and sloth bears, and herbivores including elephants, Indian Gaurs, and deer, District Forest Officer of Sathyamangalam division K. Rajkumar said.
The Department deployed three personnel in each of the 46 beats across the STR encompassing Sathyamangalam and Hasanur divisions, for observation of the adequacy of prey base for predators and vegetation for the herbivores, Mr. Rajkumar said, adding that the study was carried out in three kinds of vegetation: The Moyar area in the plains, Talamalai, Hasanur and Germalam areas that abounds in greenery owing to the high altitude, and the drier parts on Kadambur hills that form the rain shadow area with low precipitation.
Wildlife distribution will vary in accordance with the vegetation, Mr. Rajkumar explained.
The findings of the study will be compared with the observations made in preceding years to ensure sustenance of the ideal ecosystem, it is learnt.
