Tiger census begins at Similipal Wildlife Sanctuary using camera traps

The tiger census has commenced at the Similipal Wildlife Sanctuary, with forest officials deploying camera traps across the reserve to assess the tiger population.

As part of the exercise, camera traps are being installed across an area of approximately 2,750 square kilometres. Officials said the cameras are being strategically placed along routes frequently used by tigers to ensure accurate data collection. Nearly 700 camera traps are being installed in phases at around 1,300 locations within the sanctuary.

The camera traps will capture images of tigers and other wildlife as they move through the monitored zones. The photographs collected during the exercise will be submitted to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), where they will be analysed and reviewed to determine the actual tiger count.

Forest officials said the census is being conducted across dense forest areas of the sanctuary. “Camera traps have been installed in locations where pug marks and other signs of tiger movement were identified,” a Forest Range Officer said.

Each camera is kept in a designated grid for 25 to 30 days before the data is retrieved and forwarded to the NTCA for processing. The devices record the date and time of each image and capture photographs from both the left and right sides of the animal, which helps in accurate identification.

Officials noted that earlier methods such as pug impression pads were used to identify the gender and movement of tigers, but due to limitations in accuracy, the department has now shifted entirely to camera trap technology for the census.