From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
 
Panaji, May 17: The recent census by Dehradun based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has revealed that the forests surrounding Goa has increasing presence of Leopards, who have outsmarted every other animal in occupying the territory.

The census conducted last year, results of which are announced recently, has indicated that Leopards are prowling in 1611.28 square kilometers of area in state’s six wildlife sanctuaries.

Goa forest department officials who assisted WII in the census have found that majority of the area covered by Leopards is on the low altitude that is 1014.44 square kms. In all 496.86 sq kms of middle altitude area has been occupied by Leopards, who are smallest of the four big cats family.

Only 99.98 sq kms of high rise areas are used by the Leopards in these wildlife sanctuaries, which are dotting Goa-Karnataka border.

The census report, which was conducted after four years, has summed up that the wildlife presence in these areas has been on the rise, bringing in cheers for the conservationists.

Close to the record of leopards, langurs have been venturing on 1518.56 sq kms of area in the wildlife sanctuaries. They are mostly found in low altitude covering 841.66 sq kms area followed by 399.98 sq kms in the high regions.

Amongst the birds, peafowls (peacocks) are amongst the winged inhabitants occupying highest territory in these wildlife sanctuaries. The census found the presence of peafowls in 1295 sq kms of area, of which 592.72 sq kms is in the low regions.

While Leopard is most widely distributed carnivore species in these wildlife sanctuaries, it is followed by  Sloth Bear (837.75 sq km), Jackal (568.85 sq km), Wild Dog (433.24 sq km), Tiger (322 sq km) and Hyena (100 sq kms).