PTR to conduct first ever turtle, crocodile survey from June 2

 

 

Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR), Maharashtra is conducting first every Crocodile and Turtle Habitat Monitoring Survey of Central India from June 2 to 4. The maiden crocodile and turtle survey will be done using Citizen Science initiative in Riparian zones of PTR. The survey will start on June 2 at Kolitmara tourism campus. It will be done in collaboration with Tinsa Ecological Solutions. It is expected that 30 plus crocodile experts, researchers will participate in the survey. Volunteers having prior experience of herpetology, crocodile/gharial/turtle survey can take part in the exercise.

The survey will be conducted in the Pench River, Lower Pench dam reservoir and slopes of the Totladoh reservoir. It will enable management to scan entire tiger reserve simultaneously. This is a very unique experience of working with herpetologists, researchers, rescuers and volunteers on scientific documentation of habitat use by crocodiles and turtles in the forest.

Present exercise will enable the tiger reserve to study the abundance and distribution of crocodile and different turtle species in different parts of the Pench River habitat. Applicants should fill the google application form https://forms.gle/CgVSVf2YZugyNBZ27 till May 15 by 5 pm. There is no application fee. Selected participants will be informed through mail. Participants will be allotted one of selected protection huts near the selected survey areas. On each protection hut, one or two person led by at least one expert or researcher will stay from June 2 to 4. They will be provided accommodation and food facilities. Survey involves recording data while walking on foot along the bank and boat survey. For any query, one may contact through www.penchtigerreserve.maharashtra.gov.in.