: The annual tiger census at the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve commenced on Thursday. The camera trapping at Nilakottai, Mudumalai and Theppakadu is expected to end by Saturday, after which collection of data will start.
Srinivas R. Reddy, Field Director of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, said camera trapping had begun at 52 locations. It will continue for 45 days. The camera traps are set to record data from 108 locations in the 321 sq km reserve.
The photographic evidence will be used to ascertain the tiger population in the reserve. The exercise is carried out as per National Tiger Conservation Authority guidelines. Besides the number of tigers, the count of other carnivores will be recorded.
The ‘dung decay study’ – an indirect method of estimating the elephant population – is set to begin on Friday. The newly dropped dung piles will be identified and studied, before being tagged using Global Positioning System.
