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Many more animals in Kerala forests
The number of animals in Kerala's forests have gone up substantially, Forest Minister K.P. Viswanathan said Thursday.
The number of animals in Kerala's forests have gone up substantially, Forest Minister K.P. Viswanathan said Thursday.
Giving details, Viswanathan told the assembly: "The last census was taken in 2002 and prior to that it was in 1997. It shows the number of wild elephants went up from 5,737 to 6,939, Indian bisons went up from 4,151 to 14,787, giant Malabar squirrels rose from 63,474 to 88,919, Nilgiri langurs from 24,809 to 51,517, sambar deer from 13,661 to 30,414, spotted deer from 14,882 to 38,391, wild boar from 40,425 to 60,940."
In addition, the number of lion tailed monkeys has spiralled from 300 to 1,320.
However, the number of tigers has gone up only marginally over the years, increasing from 71 to 78.
Responding to the figures, C.S. Yalaki, director of Zoos and Museums, said: "The wildlife department has been able to take into confidence the local population living in the vicinity of the forests and poaching has been considerably reduced."
Currently, Kerala has a forest cover of 11,265 sq km and 14 wildlife sanctuaries.
"We have decided that we would protect the wildlife reserves to the maximum possible and for that I have requested the opening of another 25 more forest stations to the existing 88," the minister said.
