Drones being used effectively to trace flora and fauna in Munsiyari forest area
Drones being used effectively to trace flora and fauna in Munsiyari forest area
B.D.Kasniyal
Pithoragarh, Jan 31
Rare Himalayan flora and fauna, including snowfall leopard, Musk deer and Monal bird, became visible at different heights of Munsiyari forest range after a drone was used to survey the range forest.
“After we put into service a drone, meant to trace the elements who lit the forest in fire season, we have found that rare Himalayan flora and fauna is present in the forest range,”said Vijay Kumar Bhatt, Range Officer of Munsiyari range of forest of Pithoragarh division.
According to the forest officials, being largest forest range, spread over an area of 2.80 lakh square hectares, in the state, the Munsiyari forest could be surveyed by modern technological equipments like drones only
“We could see the presence of Musk deer, at 4000 meters high Dung region of Munsiyari forest, while the foot prints of snow leopard were also visible through drone at almost same heights,” said the range officer.
According to Bhatt, the battery powered drone provided to his range to trace forest fire culprits, can survey a 12 km long region once the battery is fully charged.”We would also be able to protect these rare animals from poachers as these animals descend to lower valley in winter to escape winter chill,” said the range officer.
According to forest officials, the effect of global warming is also visible in Munsiyari Himalayas as the density and frequency of snowfall in winter has also gone down from past some decades.”We are also witnessing flowering of rhodendron flower in the month of February on some part of high Himalayan region in January, that used to flower in the month of Marc, said the forest officer.
