India, May 6 -- At least 423 wild animals were spotted during the annual waterhole (machan) census conducted by the Pune forest department across the district, highlighting the region's rich biodiversity. The exercise, carried out on the occasion of 'Buddha Purnima', covered 12 forest ranges and involved overnight monitoring from multiple observation points.

The census was conducted from 4 pm on May 1 to 8 am on May 2, with forest staff stationed at 89 machans near key water sources. Officials noted a significant presence of hyenas during the night-long exercise, indicating active nocturnal wildlife movement in the region.

According to the forest department, important schedule 1 species such as wolves, chinkara, and hyenas were primaril...