The endangered swamp deer population has increased in Assam's Kaziranga National Park (KNP), with a census putting their figures at 1,148, a senior Forest Department official said today.
The census on swamp deer in KNP concluded today, spotting 1,148 of the animal markings, an increase of 19 compared to 2015, said Divisional Forest Officer Subasish Das here.
The census was a solo effort of the KNP authority, who spotted 194 swamp deers at Agoratoli range, 538 at Kohora range, 288 at Bagori range and 128 at Burahpahar range of the Park, Das said.
Male adults were 284, female adults were 601, and newborns were 176, the DFO said.
He said the rise in population of swamp deer comes as good news as they are one of the rarest animals and are only found at Kaziranga National Park.
Mans National Park in the state stood second for these rare species after 19 swamp deer were shifted from Kaziranga National Park last year, he added.
Earlier, KNP authority had approached the Oil and Natural Gas Commission Ltd in 2010 and soon after their approval, the process to count swam deer was jointly started by the Wildlife Trust of India and Assam Forest Department for the first time in 2011, forest department official said.
During the first year of census in 2011, it was found there were 1,184 deer in May 2012 and in the same year they were reduced to 664 after floods in November before their count went up to 1,129 in May 2015 but were again reduced to 929 in December that year, the KNP official added.
