Assam Forest and Wildlife officials being trained on GPS for elephant population estimation

Assam’s Forest and Wildlife officials receive GPS training for Elephant Estimation 2024

Guwahati, Feb 22 (IANS) – Assam’s Forest and Wildlife Department officials are undergoing GPS (Global Positioning System) training as part of the ongoing elephant estimation 2024 exercise. Experts from Guwahati-based biodiversity conservation organization “Aaranyak” are imparting GPS training to officials in different forest divisions. The elephant estimation exercise began on February 20 and will continue till February 27.

Aaranyak’s senior expert Arup Kumar Das stated, “We have shown GIS-based block maps of different ranges of Goalpara Forest Division. Approximately, 70 forest and wildlife officials attended the training. GPS hands-on training was provided to about 15 staff of the Goalpara Forest division with a practical session on uploading block boundaries in GPS.” Additionally, GPS training has been provided to officials in Tinsukia, Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, Kamrup, and Chirang Forest Divisions.

The GPS training is aimed at enhancing the ability to accurately record GPS locations of elephant sightings inside each estimation block, aiding in conservation efforts and habitat management. Aaranyak’s Secretary General and CEO Dr Bibhab Kumar Talukdar emphasized that the objective of the elephant estimation is to guide conservation efforts, assess population health, and formulate strategies for alleviating human-elephant conflicts.

According to the latest census in 2017, India is home to 27,312 elephants, with Assam housing the second largest pachyderm population of 5,719 elephants after Karnataka. The ongoing GPS training and elephant estimation exercise will play a crucial role in conservation and management efforts for the region’s elephant population.

In conclusion, the GPS training for forest and wildlife officials in Assam marks an important step in the ongoing elephant estimation 2024 exercise. The use of GPS technology and mapping will contribute to the accurate assessment and conservation of the region’s elephant population.

–IANS
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