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Dudhwa's Big Cat Count: Camera Traps Reveal Tiger Numbers
27 Jul
Summary
- Extensive camera-trapping for tiger estimation concluded in April.
- Over 150,000 images captured, sent to WII for analysis.
- Dudhwa recorded 153 tigers in the 2022 estimation.
Camera-trapping efforts for the quadrennial tiger estimation have concluded at Dudhwa Tiger Reserve and other reserves in Uttar Pradesh. Field Director Dr. H. Rajamohan confirmed that around 1,800 cameras were deployed from December 2025 to April 2026 across Dudhwa National Park, Kishanpur Sanctuary, Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Chitrakoot, and Pilibhit Tiger Reserve.
This extensive operation yielded over 150,000 images of tigers, leopards, and other wild animals. The retrieved images were sent in May to the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in Dehradun for detailed analysis to ascertain the current tiger population. While tigers can be precisely identified by their stripes, estimating leopard numbers is more challenging due to their spotted coat patterns.
Despite the difficulty in precise leopard counting, a co-predator estimate is usually provided alongside tiger figures. In the 2022 tiger estimation, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve was home to an estimated 153 tigers, ranking it fourth nationally. The reserve's rich ecosystem supports a robust population of apex carnivores, and frequent sightings suggest continued population growth.
