Kendrapara:
Over 3,000 spotted deer and wild boars were found in Bhitarkanika national park in Odisha, according to a survey of mammals, first of its kind to be undertaken in the forest and wetland sites of the park.
Deer and boars apart, Bhitarkanika is home to nearly 2,000 more mammal species like monkeys, hyenas, jackals and fishing cats, according to the headcount report.
Census programme of mammals was undertaken for the first time in the national park in Kendrapara district, Divisional Forest Officer, Rajnagar mangrove (wildlife) forest division, Kedar Kumar Swain said today.
A status survey of these animals is vital for the study of growth pattern of species living within the marshy wetland and mangroves of this Ramsar international wetland site, said officials.
By all indications, their number is on a steady rise because of the conducive environs and availability of plentiful of food reserve in Bhitarkanika. The enumerators are carrying out the headcount on the basis of distinct footmarks of the deer, boar and hyenas, said Swain.
While 1,872 spotted deer inhabit in Bhitarkanika, 1,213 numbers of wild boars have made the forest areas their home.
It is widely believed that there is growth of their population every year. Recurring man-animal conflict following the mammals' act of straying into human settlement are indicator of rise in their numbers, said officials.