Bhubaneswar: The annual blackbuck census commenced on Thursday in the Asika forest range under the South Ghumusar forest division in Odisha’s Ganjam district, forest officials said. The census began at 7 a.m. with enhanced monitoring measures in place this year. Officials said the blackbuck census in the region was first initiated in 2011. While the exercise was earlier conducted biennially, it has been undertaken annually since last year following a steady increase in the blackbuck population, making regular monitoring necessary. The use of drones has helped in effective monitoring and documentation, which will support long-term conservation efforts in the region.