Following a directive by the Centre, the Gujarat Forest department will soon begin preparations to adopt a uniform data collection and survey methodology to conserve both carnivores and angulates and also improve and increase quality vegetation in forest areas.Alarmed by the recent reports of killing of tigers in Sariska and Ranthambore national parks, the Project Tiger Directorate and the Wildlife Institute of India have come out with a field guide titled, ‘‘Monitoring Tigers, Co-predators, Prey and their Habitat’’, suggesting a uniform data collection and survey methodology of wild animals to be adopted by all states. Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) Pradeep Khanna on Friday said his department had received a copy of the field guide. ‘‘Based on the field guide, we’ll soon begin preparations to adopt this methodology,’’ he said. Under the existing methodology, the department has to rely on pug-marks and water-holes. The field guide has suggested new ‘line transect’ and ‘camera trap’ methods.
