Tiger census in the Kalakkad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) will be conducted between January 27 and March 31 in four phases, Field Director and Chief Conservator of Forest A. Venkatesh has said.
Speaking to reporters here on Monday, Mr. Venkatesh said 250 forest personnel and 200 volunteers would take part in the tiger census during which cameras would be fitted at 50 spots in the sanctuary besides the traditional methods of direct sighting, pug mark / scat collection etc.
“Of the 229 tigers in Tamil Nadu, 20 tigers are in KMTR. Of these 20 big cats, the pug marks of 15 tigers have been collected during the previous census,” Mr. Venkatesh said.
The entire KMTR administration – right from Mr. Venkatesh to the Office Assistant – was in a jubilant mood as the Supreme Court has endorsed the Madras High Court’s ruling that declared the entire 22,979 hectares of KMTR, including the 8,374 acres being administered by the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation (BBTC) in the core zone of the sanctuary for tea cultivation, as ‘Reserve Forest’.
“Though the BBTC administration can continue its operation up to the lease period of 2028, it can do so only if the lease arrears of ₹ 225 crore is paid. Hence, the KMTR administration will soon send notice to the BBTC asking it to pay the lease arrears,” Mr. Venkatesh said.
Deputy Director, KMTR’s Kalakkadi Division, M. Elango, and Director of Forest Land Tax Scheme Sankaranarayanan were present.
