College students to conduct survey at BBP

BANGALORE: A group of 15 wildlife enthusiast students from Mount Carmel and St Joseph’s Colleges will be taking up an indirect evidence survey at Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) on Saturday.Coordinated by the WWF and the Forest Department, the survey will include not just animal occupancy but will also take into consideration the vegetation, ways to identify animals, monitoring them and analysing the reason for increase in human-animal conflict, said a coordinator from WWF.Once the details of the survey are noted, the students will present it in their colleges   “According to the report, we will  chalk out ways and means to create awareness about forest conservation, understanding human-animal conflict and find out alternative ways of fodder for the wild animals. After analysis, the report will be submitted to the WWF, New Delhi and also to the Ministry of Environment and Forests,” she added. All technical equipment will be provided to the students by the Forest Department. Speaking to The New Indian Express, Deputy                      Conservator of Forests of Bannerghatta Biological Park Gokul R said,”Three forest officials will be accompanying the students. The officials will be equipped with guns and fire crackers as protective measures for students during the trip. Before starting the trip,    students will be briefed as they are not  suppose to make any kind of noise in the forest.”The initiative is a part of WWF’s nationwide campaign ‘Cities for Forests’ which aims at safeguarding forest and biodiversity around cities, commemorating the World Wildlife Week.