Tiger Census Begins in Odisha’s Similipal National Park; 103 Forest Staff Deployed

The Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha has launched its annual tiger census, a two-phase exercise designed to update predator and prey population data in line with National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines.

In the first phase, 103 trained forest staff have been mobilised across beat locations in southern Similipal to document indirect evidence of tiger movement, including pugmarks, scrape marks, and scats.

Transect surveys are also being conducted to estimate herbivore density, with data collected via a mobile app linked to NTCA’s central database.

The second phase, beginning December 1, will focus on carnivores such as tigers, leopards, and smaller wild cats.

Around 1,500 camera traps will be deployed across the reserve to capture movement patterns, territorial behaviour, and unique identification marks.

Officials emphasised that the census is part of India’s four-year national tiger estimation cycle and will provide crucial insights into Similipal’s predator-prey dynamics.

The findings are expected to strengthen conservation strategies in one of India’s most biodiverse landscapes.