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Baripada: On Saturday, the Odisha Forest department initiated the All-India Tiger Estimation-2026 at the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district, as reported by officials. This initiative aims to evaluate the tiger population in the reserve according to established protocols. The estimation process will occur in two phases, as explained by Samrat Gowda, Deputy Director of Similipal Tiger Reserve. The first phase encompasses a three-day survey for carnivores and mega-herbivores, followed by a four-day line transect survey and a one-day count of vultures and other bird species. Phase-I commenced on Saturday in the Similipal South Division, with 103 trained survey teams assigned to the task, Gowda noted. This phase will last until November 22.
The subsequent phase will involve an extensive camera trapping operation across 1,321 grids within the tiger reserve. Approximately 1,500 camera traps will be set up in two cycles of 25 days each, starting from December 1, he added. This thorough evaluation aims to deliver an updated and precise estimation of the tiger population in the reserve, which is renowned for being the sole habitat globally for its distinctive black tigers. The previous estimation report from 2022 recorded 24 adult tigers and eight cubs within the reserve. Similipal National Park, recognized as the second-largest biosphere in Asia, spans an area of 2,750 sq km.