<span style="color: #222222;">The annual wildlife census has started in the Kalakkadu – Mundanthurai tiger sanctuary in Tamil Nadu today. The survey, to be conducted in the entire 60,000 hectare area of the sanctuary, will continue till 27th of January. Conservator of Forests Omkar Kommu told AIR that the first part of the survey will be devoted to taking count of carnivores like tiger, jackals etc, while the second phase will involve the enumeration of herbivores like elephants, deer etc. He also made a special request to tourists to postpone their visits to the sanctuary during the survey period. He said that the census is an important tool in protecting the precious wildlife wealth in the country and said that it can be conducted effectively when there are no distractions.</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;"><br />” More than three hundred personnel, including forest officials, wildlife experts and college students are involved in the exercise. They have completed preliminary training and have started the survey in various places like Padamalai, Kodamath etc in groups of five or six people from today.</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;"><br />” The survey will also take note of the condition of forest environment and its effect on the pattern of distribution of the wild animals. Possibilities for man-animal conflicts will also be identified during the survey and necessary eco-friendly steps to avoid them will also be suggested.</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;"><br />” The census findings will be included in the annual State of Wild Life Population report of the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment.</span><br />