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Karnataka Tiger Census Begins: Counting Stripes for Conservation
5 Jan
Summary
- Tiger census began January 5, 2025, across Karnataka's forest areas.
- This is the sixth national tiger estimation, conducted every four years.
- Census involves three phases, including direct sightings and camera traps.
Karnataka launched its statewide tiger census on January 5, 2025, a crucial part of the nation's quadrennial tiger estimation. This marks the sixth such comprehensive survey, following previous counts in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022, when an estimated 563 tigers were recorded in the state.
The multi-phase census involves frontline forest personnel trained to collect vital data. The initial phase, running from January 5 to January 7, 2025, focuses on identifying pugmarks, scats, and direct sightings of tigers and other carnivores. This is followed by a second phase from January 15 to 17, 2025, dedicated to assessing herbivore populations, which helps determine optimal locations for camera traps.
The final phase will utilize camera traps, with 2,230 strategically placed across the five major tiger reserves. Additional camera traps will be deployed outside these reserves, reflecting observations of tigers increasingly venturing into human-inhabited areas. Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre highlighted that the census will provide precise numbers, assess prey availability, and determine the forest's carrying capacity for its tiger population.
