Findings of large number of wild dogs and leopards during the recently concluded wildlife census operation in Goa sanctuaries have curtailed fears of dwindling wildlife in the state's forests.

Deputy conservator of forests Debendra Dalai told PTI that the forest department officials and volunteers have recorded umpteen number of wild dogs moving in packs, which were not seen during the last census conducted almost four years back.

"This indicates that the forest is intact and undisturbed," Dalai said.

The forest department had conducted a week-long wildlife census which concluded on May 4. The exercise, monitored by Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII), had around 200 people involved in it.

Goa has six wildlife sanctuaries and vast tracts of government reserve forest.

Dalai said that the volunteers had "direct and indirect" evidence of wild dogs which were roaming in sizeable peg (group) size. "There were even nine wild dogs in a group," he said.

The presence of these species were not recorded during census conducted in 2002 and 2006.

The Indian wild dog, commonly known as the dhole, is an endangered species and the only member of the genus Cuon.

Animals like wild boar and spotted deer are predators for wild dogs, who hunt in group. "Wild dogs can even bring down big animal like Gaur," Dalai explained.

The census workers were also thrilled to see mouse deer, a nocturnal animal, which was also not recorded in last census.

Dalai said that the exercise also found indirect and direct evidence of leopards in the forest.

"The count of leopards was 41 during the last census. This time, it is going to increase," he said.