nagpurchandrapur even as stage is set for waterhole estimation of wild animals popularly called as machan census on may 2122 point count method also known as point transect method will be used for the first time for counting the method has been adopted as per the suggestion made by wildlife institute of india wii dehradun in point count method observers on a fixed point on a machan will see for animals after every one hour and five minutes in all directions with binoculars at 360 degree and record the number of sighting species male or female fawn or young one etc a separate data sheet will be given to the staff accompanying the volunteers the same method will be followed in pench navegaonnagzira and tadobaandhari tiger reserves training workshops have already been held for staff in sanctuaries under pench and nntr wii researchers are giving training to the field staff in tadoba it is also very important to record the distance of each animal object or clusters of animals from the observation point the distance of the animals from the observers need not be measured precisely but can be group in classes of distances say 010m 1020m 2030m etc and the result so generated does not decrease the efficiency of the density estimate procedure said wii scientist bilal habib till date enthusiasts used to count animals at the waterhole only and there were many repetitions but with the new method forest department will be able to know distribution and behavioural pattern of mammals their density and also corelate it habib added the density of wild animals of each machan site shall be taken into account and calculated the average density even if we get to know distribution from 300 machans it will be a big achievement habib said even as allotment of machans to volunteers is complete there is huge enthusiasm among participants over 1500 volunteers and ngos will be part of the massive exercise through 1210 waterholes in parks and buffer zone of four tiger reserves in vidarbha in tatr as many as 456 volunteers will participate in this 24hourlong exercise tatr officials said there are 207 machans including 68 in core zone and 139 in buffer we received 705 applications of which 456 volunteers including 154 in core and 302 in buffer have been finalized over 17 women will also take part in core area they said the list of selected volunteers with allotted waterhole has been displayed at tatr office as online bookings were allowed for may 21 jungle safari will continue as usual in parks volunteers have been asked to report at respective gates on saturday morning every enumerator will be given an icard and shifted in tatr vehicles to their destined machans in light of heatwave two ambulances will be ready to tackle with any emergency officials said in melghat there are 449 waterholes in sipna gugamal and akot divisions in all 471 volunteers have been shortlisted including 20 women we have kept 22 aspirants