Siliguri, Jan. 16: The officials of the state forest department will conduct a rhino census this month in Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary and Gorumara National Park, the two major forests of north Bengal which are also rhino habitats.

Tapas Das, the conservator of forest (wildlife, north Bengal), said the census would be conducted for two days in both the forests. 'We will conduct the rhino census at Jaldapara on January 19 and 20. A similar exercise will be held in Gorumara on January 21 and 22,' he said.

According to him, the rhino census was conducted in Jaldapara two years back. 'At that time, 186 rhinos were counted in Jaldapara. In Gorumara, where the census was conducted last year, the rhino count was 50,' he said.

The census, he said, would be done through direct sighting. Apart from the forest staff, representatives of wildlife NGOs and forest protection groups will also take part in the census.

The decision to hold the rhino census has, however, left stakeholders of tourism industry concerned. 'We came to know about the census yesterday. During these days, the car and elephant safaris will be closed in the two reserve forests. We appreciate the exercise, but we will be in the soup because of the sudden closure,' said Samrat Sanyal, the working president of Eastern Himalaya Travel and Tour Operators' Association.