Sukhna sanctuary’s first ever census reveals 9 mammal,63 bird species

The nine species of mammals include leopard,sambar,chital,wild boar,Indian Porcupine,Indian Pangolian,Blacknaped hare,Golden Jackal and Grey Langur. The census report,which was released today,stated that the presence of predators such as the leopard,which requires enough prey for its sustenance,suggests the importance of Sukhna and its rich biodiversity.

Prominent among the birds are peacock,red jungle fowl,grey partridge,cuckoo,night jar,golden oriole,kingfisher,swift,hoopoe,hornbill,barbet,woodpecker,roller,barn owl,parrot,dove,jacana,plover,coot,hawk,goose,swan,duck,grebe,black drongo,tree pie,jungle crow,bulbul,hill myna,koel,bee-eater,common myna etc.

The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has sent the report of the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary census. As per the report,one of the major outcomes of the census report submitted by Wildlife Institute of Dehradun,the forest of Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary is healthy,with good ecological dimension and least disturbance.

The Wildlife Census in Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary was carried out from December 9 to 11,2010,with the technical assistance of Wildlife Institute of India,Dehradun,in collaboration with the Panjab University (PU) Botany department,PU Zoology Department,Avian Habitat & Wetland Society,People for Animals (PFA),Yuvsatta,NGOs,students of St Kabir School and Forests & Wildlife Department staff.

The survey team,which was dived into various groups,was given training by a six teams of the Wildlife Institute of India. Sixteen teams comprising of staff members of the Forest Department and local NGOs surveyed the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary for two days,covering a distance of 16 km for ungulates,16 km for monitoring birds and 32 km for a carnivore sign survey.

During the two-day survey period,the team encountered indirect evidences (pugmarks) of the presence of the leopard at the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary. The presence of the leopard has also been reported earlier by officials of Forests & Wildlife Sanctuary.