MADURAI: A preliminary analysis of the annual wildlife census conducted by the Forest Department in Madurai forest reserves early this month spotted endangered species Indian wild dogs ('sennai' or Indian dhole) in at least six locations which forest officials say indicates a good trend in the dhole population.
However, forest officials said that the detailed report would be released only in April.
Madurai District Forest Officer Nihar Ranjan said that wild dogs were spotted in the forest reserves of Viralipatti, Vikramangalam, Mannadimangalam and Kulasekarapatti. "While a few volunteers spotted wild dogs, others could find many evidences of the animal presence."
"But this does not signify any increase in their population, as the census is done to find the trend in the population of the animal," he said explaining that the census was done to find the trend in the ecosystem and the presence of animals in the forest.
The three-day census covered forest ranges in Madurai, Usilampatti and Sholavandan, with volunteers, forest guards and watchers recording their sightings of animals. "The census was conducted by over 100 people including our staff and 60 volunteers," said Nihar Ranjan.
"The volunteers would also look for pug marks, feces of animals and sounds which would be counted as indirect spotting of animals," said Nihar Ranjan.
Wild life experts said that Indian wild dogs were top predators in Madurai. "In a landscape such as Madurai, where there are no tigers or leopards, dholes remain top predators," said Dr A Kumaraguru, board member of Sathiyamangalam Tiger Reserve Foundation.
M Rajanna of Madurai Trekking Club said, "Dholes hunt in groups and can even kill a bear. So, if any area has prey for the animals, they would migrate," he added.