A healthy tiger population is an indicator of sustainable development in the 13 tiger range countries. The method of calculation of tiger population is very important as far as a country is concerned as it represents the sustainable development. The new tiger estimation method has greatly evolved since it was first used in 2006, and is now more scientifically and statistically defensible, using contemporary animal abundance-assessment methodologies. Surveyors complemented this with a large number of camera-traps, GPS trackers and range-finders. This way, apart from counting tigers, surveyors have also estimated the populations of a number of co-predators and ungulate species throughout the country. The old estimation method used to be blamed for inflated tiger numbers; when pushed, surveyors could only produce drawings and plaster-casts of tigers pug-marks to back up the declared number, and state forest departments would take much of the flak. However, the new method requires surveyors to have photographed the tigers – which they have to the extent of 83% – and the resulting 76,500+ pictures are catalogued in the tiger cell of the Wildlife Institute of India. Happy learning with new insights into the scenario. Please see the related presentation.

Nazrin Farzana

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