Bhubaneswar, Oct 18: The Odisha government has initiated its own tiger census, commencing the process in the Similipal Tiger Reserve and the forest divisions of Baripada, Rairangpur, and Satkosia (Karanjia) within the Mayurbhanj district.

The tiger estimation is being conducted in three distinct phases. The initial phase encompasses a sign survey, utilizing methods such as tracking pugmarks and other carnivore indicators, and will continue until October 20. Subsequently, the second phase, from October 25 to 28, will involve a line-transect survey to tally herbivore numbers. The third and final phase will take place from November 1 to 25, employing camera trapping techniques with the installation of 400 to 500 cameras at potential sites to monitor carnivores.

This census effort will engage approximately 700 forest department employees from over 200 beat houses within the Similipal forest area. Furthermore, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) recently conducted training sessions, instructing master trainers and providing practical guidance to around 20 officials at Chandka Godibari camp in preparation for the census.

According to the All-India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2022 report released in July, the tiger population in Odisha's forests has declined to 20 in 2022 from 45 in 2006. Notably, one of the state's two designated tiger reserves, the Satkosia Tiger Reserve, no longer has any tigers. Between 2018 and 2022, the state witnessed a drop in the big cat population, decreasing from 28 to 20, with the Similipal Tiger Reserve being the only positive exception, where the tiger count doubled from eight to 16 during that period.

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