Panvel: As many as 23 different species of birds and animals were recorded in a wildlife and bird census was conducted at the Karnala Bird Sanctuary.

The census, conducted on May 12 and 13, was organized jointly by the forest department and six environmental NGOs.  

This year’s census made effective use of technology, with six trap cameras installed near water bodies and three observation stations set up across the sanctuary, forest range officer Narayan Rathod said. The use of technology facilitated the identification of elusive and lesser-seen wildlife through both visual and audio recordings, he added.

Spanning approximately 12,000 sq km, Karnala Bird Sanctuary serves as home to a wide range of bird and animal species. Previous censuses have identified as many as 41 new species in the region. The data collected this year, including behavior patterns, calls, and nesting areas, offers important insight into the sanctuary's biodiversity.

Among the notable sightings were eight white-throated kingfishers, 13 egrets, and four monkeys. Other species observed included woodpeckers (5), crows (4), owls (4), sunbirds (3), drongos (3), jungle babblers (3), nightjars (3), barbets (3), hulas (3), holas (3), jungle crows (2), and cuckoos (2). Additionally, single sightings were recorded of red-vented bulbul, kite, shama, squirrel, Hanuman langur, Indian rat snake (Dhaman), and a wildcat.