FOREST OFFICIALS will wade through the Chambal waters to count the aquatic animals so as to prepare a base line data for further work on the protection of biodiversity in tri-state Chambal sanctuary.
Beginning on Thursday, counting will be completed in the first fortnight of February. The decision to prepare a baseline data was taken during a workshop organised by department of zoology in Jiwaji University. Zoologists, wild life experts and forest officials had participated in this workshop and discussed protection of biodiversity of Chambal river.
Crucial decisions that were taken in the workshop included assessing requirement of minimum river flow, determining pollution level, taking steps for the protection of riverine habitat and preparing a baseline data.
Forest officials will do the census with the help of experts as per international standards. According to wildlife experts and forest officials this survey will form the bedrock of further action to protect aquatic species.
Chambal River is rich in fauna and home for reptiles including crocodile, Gharial, turtles besides mammals including otters and gangetic dolphins. According to wild life experts more than 150 species of birds are also found in the region.
Chambal sanctuary runs through Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Increasing human activity particularly sand mining has endangered the Gharial species.
{{/usCountry}}Chambal sanctuary runs through Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Increasing human activity particularly sand mining has endangered the Gharial species.
{{/usCountry}}Forest department officials of all the three states, Jiwaji University and WFF have been working in the direction of their protection.