Following the success of radio collars on tracking swamp deers in Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, in Assam, the same procedure is now being replicated within the Rajaji Tiger National Park on its swamp deer population.
These radio collars have been found successful in keeping a check on the population of many wild animals such as Deers and Elephants as well.
A few months ago, radio collars were mounted on Asiatic Elephants within Rajaji Park that has aided in studying the habitat and progress of the pachyderms. Radio Collars are non-evasive and hence very safe and useful in tracking animals in the wild.
Range Officer Pradeep Uniyal said, “In 2005 the park just had 35 swamp deers but at present we have over 300.” A population on the rise which needs to be monitored closely.
The collars are being mounted on the swamp deers by a team of Scientists from the Wild Life Institute, Dehradun using Drive-Net method at the Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserve.
The new technology is being considered as a right step toward conservation and preservation of the swamp deers, which are also a major tourist attraction in the park.
Wildlife Scientist Dr. Bivashpandav appraised the media saying, “These radio collars are the best technology that we have today to tract wildlife and are completely safe to be used on animals in the wild.”
