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First phase of the nation-wide tiger estimation exercise
January 5 , 2026
14 hrs 0 min
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- The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has announced that the first phase of the All-India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2026 will begin.
- It is part of the world’s largest wildlife monitoring exercise.
- AITE is conducted once every four years by the National Tiger Conservation Authority and the Wildlife Institute of India.
- It aims to assess tigers, co-predators such as leopards, wild dogs and hyenas.
- It also aims to estimate the mega herbivore prey base, including gaur, sambar deer, spotted deer, and barking deer.
- It also includes detailed habitat assessment through sign surveys, line transects, camera trapping exercises and genetic sampling.
- Tamil Nadu is home to five tiger reserves — Kalakad Mundanthurai, Anamalai, Mudumalai, Sathyamangalam, and Srivilliputhur-Megamalai.
- The State’s tiger population has increased from 264 in 2018 to 306 in 2022.
- The exercise would cover all tiger reserves, other tiger habitats, and private estates with significant carnivore presence.
- Frontline staff, volunteers, and technology such as camera traps and the M-STrIPES monitoring system would be deployed.
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