Unlocking Hope: Empowering Assam’s Forest Heroes in Kaziranga for Precise Elephant Population Estimation

Over 70 frontline forest personnel from the northeastern states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Nagaland engaged in a two-day intensive training at Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve. The program was focused on the All India Synchronised Elephant Population Estimation, a pivotal initiative by Project Elephant under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

Part of Project Elephant’s five-year cycle, the training imparted advanced techniques for accurately estimating elephant populations. Key areas covered included sampling encounter rates, assessing group composition, and DNA analysis of dung samples. This cycle employs the Spatially Explicit Capture-Recapture (SECR) model, a sophisticated approach offering precision by leveraging DNA data, which has been successfully applied in estimating tiger and leopard numbers.

Attendees were also introduced to the MSTrIPES polygon application, a cutting-edge tool enhancing geo-referenced field observations and data accuracy. This technology is designed to curtail sampling errors and elevate the reliability of data collected during estimations.

Guidance was provided by experts from the Wildlife Institute of India, including Bhim Singh and Shravana Goswami, ensuring participants gained a thorough understanding of the specialized methodologies.

In related news, Assam’s Dr. Bibhab Kumar Talukdar was recently honored with the prestigious ‘Harry Messel Award’ for his leadership in conservation, highlighting the region’s ongoing commitment to environmental preservation.

Original Story https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/assam-frontline-forest-personnel-trained-in-kaziranga-for-elephant-population-estimation-1111186-2024-10-25?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2024-10-25 19:16:00