Rudrapur, July 3 -- According to the report of a three-day joint census conducted by Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Corbett foundation, Hog deer population in Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) reached 189 in May this year, up from 175 counted in the summer (May-June) of 2021, officials aware of the matter said on Wednesday. The exercise was taken up from May 22 to 24 to ascertain the decline in the population of Hog deer, officials said, adding that the report was released on Tuesday. They said that while the rise is small, it is encouraging. "CTR administration conducted a three-day Hog deer count in its landscape in May. It was just an exercise to take stock of the situation why the population of such deer was declining. Though there is a slight rise in the number of Hog deer, the report is encouraging," director CTR Saket Badola said on Wednesday. He added, "According to the report, CTR has 153 adults and 36 fawns of which a total of 189 Hog deer were counted in its landscape. Earlier, 175 Hog deer were counted in 2021. Counting was on the method of direct sighting. It was conducted in every beat (A geographical part of the forest under range to monitor) of 12 ranges of CTR with a wildlife expert and two assistants." Hog deer are found in waterlogged grasslands and play a vital role in the wildlife food chain particularly for tigers and leopards, officials said adding that the Hog deer census was being conducted across the state. "Rise in the Hog deer population shows that natural habitat and ecology for the wild animal including is balanced and compatible. Our experts will try to find the steps to increase the number of Hog deer in CTR," said the director....