VISHVENDU JAIPURIAR
Hazaribag, Nov 8: For the first time in Jharkhand, an endangered Indian grey wolf was seen when a team from the Wildlife Institute of India grabbed its picture in the forests of the Koderma district.
The team has installed cameras at various points in Koderma forests to know about wild animals found here. Cameras have grabbed the image of an Indian grey wolf. The team also spotted pug marks of leopard.
After Independence, the number of these wolves was found to be more than 2 lakh. In 2020, only 2000 were found in the survey. Moreover, in Jharkhand, it was not reported before.
The team is surveying animals to protect their lives from the 36 km freight corridor passing from the forests of Hazaribag and Koderma. The ten-membered team said it was an initiative of the union government to carry out a survey and make a report on animals found here.
One of the members Deepak Anand said though they got the pugmarks of a leopard, none of the cameras clicked its picture. Anand said such animals are now decreasing due to the encroachment of forests. He said human activities in forest area is also one of the reason.
He added that they will complete their survey by March next year submitting their report to the government besides handing in a proposal for setting up a safari in Koderma. He said wild animals have a maximum threat from railway tracks passing from the forest areas. In the last four years, 35732 animals were killed in India from the wheels of the train, he said.
