Bannerghatta National Park records 80 elephants

newindpress.com
May 8 2007
BANNERGHATTA NATIONAL PARK: Wading through nearly 30 km of forests did not dampen their spirits.Sixty-one nature lovers, who had volunteered to join the elephant census, counted nearly 80 elephants in a 104 sq km Bannerghatta National Park on the first day of the three-day nation-wide Elephant Census-2007.The volunteers, guided by the Forest Department officials, trekked three ranges of the park --Harohalli, Anekal and Bannerghatta. The ranges recorded 16 elephants in Harohalli, 38 in Anekal and 26 in Bannerghatta.Interestingly, most of participants were students. There were also professionals from IT sector, from NGOs and individual wildlife enthusiasts. Wildlife photographer A Mani, to whom this was no new experience, remarked, ‘‘It is good to see that youngsters are keen on forest and wildlife. This will be a great education for them in conservation,’’ he said.Anusha S Dutt, special educator, was excited when she first spotted some wild elephants. Divya Shetty, who works with disabled children, said the census provided her a dream opportunity to get near the wildlife. ‘‘We will look forward to such adventure,’’ she said.

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