CHENNAI: The state forest department has made arrangements to conduct tiger estimation from January 5 as a part of All India Tiger Estimation (AITE), which is coordinated by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII) once every 4 years.

As a department release, the exercise will assess the population status of tigers, co-predators, prey species, and their habitats across the country. The final report of the estimation is expected by 2027.

During the estimation, detailed habitat assessments will be conducted through sign surveys, line transects, camera trapping exercises and genetic sampling. The private estates which have significant tiger and co-predator presence are also included for estimation.

The First phase of the exercise will start on January 5 and will last till the end of February 2026. The Department will deploy trained frontline staff, volunteers, and technology-based monitoring tools like M-STrIPES and camera traps during the survey.

"The estimation will cover all tiger reserve areas and tiger-bearing areas of the state. A comprehensive training and capacity building exercise has already been done from November to December 2025 in all the divisions of the state, where tiger estimation is proposed," the release added.

The department has also invited volunteers to participate in the estimation by registering their names with the concerned tiger reserve offices in advance.

According to the All India Tiger Estimation, the tiger population in Tamil Nadu was 264 in 2018 and increased to 306 in 2022.

The state has 5 Tiger Reserves—Kalakad Mundanthurai, Anamalai, Mudumalai, Sathyamangalam, and Srivilliputhur–Megamalai.