Leopard census: Foresters get a helping hand from Army engineers

The Vadodara forest division,for the first time,pressed into service armed forces officials in the recently-concluded leopard and cloth bear census.

The Vadodara forest division,for the first time,pressed into service armed forces officials in the recently-concluded leopard and cloth bear census. The three-day exercise saw as many as 18 personnel of the 811 Engineer Regiment,ONGC,engaged in the counting.

Officials said that Engineer Regiment officers had approached the Forest Department and offered to help them in the arduous task. The offer was accepted by the department. After a crash course in wildlife census,the officials were given locations where they monitored the wildlife movements for three days.

This is one of the initiatives to bring our personnel close to nature. When we came to know about the census during one of our meetings with the Forest Department,we showed our willingness to participate in it. The department immediately arranged for a short training on the basics of wildlife and how the census is carried out, said Prateechi Dixit,Major Adjutant for Commanding Officer.

The officers were given a total of 17 locations near Shinor,Padra,Karjan and Sayali.

Assistant Conservator of Forest D C Mehta said: It was a pleasant surprise for us when they approached us and showed their willingness. We did not want to put them in the remote areas from where it is difficult to return. So we decided to give them areas close to Vadodara.

We briefed them about the basic habits of animals and how they should observe their minute details and behaviour. Our officials were accompanying them, he added.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram