PANJIM: The Forest Department will conduct a wild animal census and also assess the existence of tigers in wildlife sanctuaries. The Wildlife Census 2014, will be conducted from April 21 to 26. The census will assess animals and their habitat as well as study whether there is proper fodder available for herbivorous animals. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun has already trained forest officials on the methodology to be adopted for carrying out the census. WII officials had arrived in Goa in February to conduct a two-day training programme for the forest officials. The State forest department had earlier conducted such census during 2002, 2006 and in 2010. Though, forest department failed to get the result of 2006 census, the 2010 census had surprised many upon the presence of five tigers in Goa’s wild, and increased number of leopards and wild dogs. Under pressure from the government, the Forest department had in 2013 conducted a special tiger survey to ascertain their presence. Though, the survey revealed presence of tiger, the Forest department was not satisfied with the result to go ahead and declare Mahdei wildlife sanctuary as a tiger reserve, even as other experts from outside the State had seconded that tigers were present in Goa. The government has also made an appeal to the citizens to come forward as volunteers to conduct the said survey. Those interested in volunteering can contact the relevant Forest Department offices for more details.