A headcount of mammals was conducted in the Bhitarkanika National Park for the third successive year during which 6,122 mammals were sighted, informed Rajnagar DFO Bimal Prasanna Acharya.
The Mammal Census-2016 was carried out for three days November 19 to 21 in five forest ranges under the park. Forest personnel of Kanika, Rajnagar, Mahakalapada, Gahirmatha and Kujanaga conducted the census.
As per the latest report, 3,233 Chittals (spotted deer), 1,252 wild pigs (wild boar), 1,297 rhesus macaques, 34 common langurs, 156 jackals, 16 fishing cats, 10 hyenas, 63 otters, eight jungle cats, 10 mongoose and 25 foxes, 11 hares, three leopard cats, four porcupines were sighted in the park area.
Compared to the last year, the number of spotted deer and rhesus macaque has increased by 108 and 16, respectively while wild boars’ number has decreased by 142.