Bhubaneswar, May 9: Today, the elephant count began in Similipal, Kuldiha and Soro to estimate the number of pachyderms in the sanctuaries. The count is likely to be held till May 13. Both line-transect and dung count methods are being put in use to ascertain the exact numbers of elephants. A total of 84 units have been constituted by the forest officials having five members in a group to carry out the counting process. More than 500 officials have been deployed to carry out the count in 7 ranges of Simlipal sanctuary that covers around 2,750 square km area. Likewise, counting will be done in 54 and 11 ranges of Kuldiha sanctuary and Soro respectively. 65 camps having two guards each have been set up in these two sanctuaries of Balasore. Till 2015, there have been 337 elephants while Kuldiha has got 89.
