Goa wildlife census: Tiger-like pug marks found

The findings of pug marks similar to that of tiger has added vigour to state forest department's wildlife census scheduled to begin at the end of this month.

“We found certain pugmarks in the wildlife which can be that of tiger, leopard, panther or even wild cat,” Dr Gautam Talukdar, an expert from wildlife Institute of India (WII), told this morning. He said that the pugmarks samples are subjective as detailed analyzing of the sample would yield proper assessment of about the animal.

WII official was part of the two member team that trained Goa forest department officers for the census for three days. Talukdar has said that qualitative analysis of these pug marks needs to be done before confirming any animal. The state is readying to host wildlife animal census in all its six wildlife sanctuaries and government owned forest areas. The survey will begin on April 26 and conclude on May 4, 2010.

A team of 330 people including forest department staff will search every inch of forest for the clues or signs to know the movement or existence of animals. A forest department officer said that spread over three phases, the survey will also have a camera trapping method in its third leg.