The carnivore and mega herbivore sign survey taken up as part of All-India Tiger Estimation 2018, which concluded in the State on Wednesday, saw a surge in both carnivore and herbivore sightings in Bandipur.
In continuation of the exercise, a Line Transect Survey will be held on Thursday and Friday. This entails sampling of the vegetation, human disturbance and pellet count along the transect lines.
The carnivore sign survey on Wednesday resulted in sightings of six tigers —two in Kundukere range and one each in Bandipur, Maddur, Moliyur and N. Begur ranges. Two leopards were sighted — one each in the Moolehole and Moliyuru range —while three dogs were sighted at Gundre, according to Ambadi Madhav, director of Bandipur Tiger Reserve. He said the herbivore sign survey also resulted in the sighting of 52 elephants — 17 in Gundre, 12 in Maddur, nine in Kundukere range, seven in Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta, two each in Moolehole and Omkar range, and three in Moliyur range. The sightings on Tuesday included six tigers, one leopard, four sloth bears, 46 elephants, and three herds of gaur.
These sightings are only a broad indicator of the carnivore and prey density in a given area. The actual tiger figures will be arrived at after collecting all the data and subjecting it to vigorous analysis through statistical methods.
This will also be studied in tandem with the images captured on the camera-traps that will be set up in a grid of 2x2 sq km across national parks and tiger reserves. But the camera-trapping exercise will be taken up only after the completion of field survey in tiger reserves and national parks (on January 13) and in the territorial forest divisions (on January 27).
While about 600 points have been demarcated for Bandipur, nearly 750 camera-trapping points have been identified for Nagarahole. For the first time, the cameras will also be placed outside the notified tiger reserves as part of the enumeration exercise.
