The eight-day protocol of prey census in the buffer zone of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) began on Friday.
Deputy Director of MTR, V.A. Saravanan, said that 25 teams will set off along the transect lines starting from Friday.
The census will be conducted in the buffer zone, comprising the Sigur, Singara and Nilgiris North-Eastern Section (Thengumarada), which is under the jurisdictional control of the Nilgiris North Division, though it is expected that the three ranges will be incorporated into the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in a few months, for easier administration.
After the completion of the prey census, camera traps are to be set up at more than 200 points across the three forest ranges, to capture the movement or carnivores, especially leopards and tigers. The camera traps will be set up in points across the buffer zone on January 25, Mr. Saravanan said.
After the completion of the census in the buffer zone, counting of tigers in other divisions, including the Nilgiris North Division, South Division and Gudalur Division will also be conducted. The consolidated number of tigers and carnivores, along with their prey base, spotted during the synchronized tiger census will be sent to the Wildlife Institute of India, officials said.
In December 2017, tiger census was conducted in the core area of MTR over a 25-day period.
Unlike in previous years, the number of camera traps placed inside the reserve were more than double the usual number, with cameras being set up at 195 points.
