Kaziranga National Park has over 1100 eastern swamp deer

Guwahati: Kaziranga National Park in Assam witnessed rise in eastern swamp deer population from last year and currently stands at 1129, according to the just concluded census.

A four-day census, which concluded yesterday, registered an increase from last year's 854 swamp deer to 1129 with 328 adult males, 569 adult females, 122 yearlings and 110 fawns, KNP Director M K Yadava said today.

The census, which began on Friday last, was spread over 20 blocks in the four ranges--Eastern Range, Central range, Western Range and Burapahar range.

A total of 20 enumerators, 20 independent observers and 20 elephants were engaged in the operation, he said.

The first day of the census was kept for training and briefing, the second day for actual counting, the third for sample recheck and the fourth for recount of blocks and tabulation.

Binoculars, GPS and digital cameras were deployed to assist the enumerators for better observation, Yadava said.

In the last count held in May last year, it was found that Kaziranga had 854 eastern swamp deer with 176 adult males, 504 adult females and 174 calves.