Bhubaneswar, Nov 15: The All India Tiger Estimation-2026 officially began today at the Similipal Tiger Reserve, marking the launch of a large-scale, scientific effort to assess the reserve’s tiger population and overall ecosystem health. The exercise, conducted as per the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) protocol, will unfold in two key phases—Phase-I and Phase-III.

Phase-I, which commenced today across the Similipal South Division, involves an intensive field survey. A total of 103 trained survey groups have been deployed across 103 beats to carry out sign surveys of carnivores and mega herbivores. The teams will also conduct line transect surveys and document vulture and other bird species. This phase, running until November 22, aims to generate crucial data on carnivore occupancy and ungulate density, forming the baseline for the next steps.

Following the completion of Phase-I, Phase-III will begin on December 1. This stage includes a massive camera trapping exercise covering 1,321 grids, each measuring 2 sq. km. Nearly 1,500 camera traps will be installed in two cycles of 25 days each to capture photographic evidence of tigers and other wildlife.

The ongoing estimation is vital for tracking tiger numbers, understanding habitat conditions, and strengthening conservation strategies within Similipal Tiger Reserve.

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