COIMBATORE: The annual pre-monsoon wildlife census commenced at the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) on Thursday, marking the beginning of an important exercise to assess tiger populations and their prey base.
More than 150 forest personnel are involved in the large-scale operation, which aims to detect the presence of tigers and other carnivores through field indicators such as pug marks, scat samples, and direct sightings. Officials said advanced optical equipment and systematic field observation techniques are being used to enhance accuracy in tracking wildlife across the reserve.
The exercise is being conducted by 29 teams comprising forest staff and volunteers, covering different forest ranges of Mudumalai using the line transect method. Each team is tasked with collecting and recording field data in a structured manner throughout the census period.
All observations and data collected during the survey will be systematically documented using the M-STrIPES application, along with GPS coordinates to ensure precise spatial mapping of wildlife movement and distribution. The census is scheduled to continue until May 12, after which a comprehensive report on tiger and other carnivore populations will be submitted to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
Forest officials noted that Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, a key biodiversity hotspot, is home to a wide range of wildlife species including elephants, tigers, leopards, and several herbivores that form a critical part of the ecosystem. Ahead of the exercise, field staff were briefed on standard operating procedures and safety protocols to be followed during the enumeration process.
Officials also indicated that similar population estimation exercises are set to begin soon in the Coimbatore and Pollachi forest divisions, where camera trap methods will be used to assess tiger presence. The wildlife census has already been completed in parts of the Tirupur and Kodaikanal forest divisions under the Anamalai Tiger Reserve.
Last year’s census had recorded around 150 tigers within the Mudumalai landscape, reflecting the reserve’s significance as one of the key tiger habitats.