Team Herald
PANJIM: The recently conducted Tiger Estimation Survey 2018 in Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary has confirmed the presence of tigers in the sanctuary. The survey was conducted for over six days.
The officials, who conducted the phase I survey, which got underway from May 1, have collected around 50-52 samples of Tigers which will be sent to Dehradun for further investigation and study.
“As per the survey there is existence of tigers in the sanctuary. There is an estimate of five tigers and four black panthers in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary. All the collected samples will be sent to Dehradun for further investigation.” said an officer
He said, “In the special cameras that were set up in the sanctuary, animals such as tigers, cheetahs, leopard, and black panther had been captured.”
The survey, which will conclude on June 1, is expected to determine the tiger population based on habitat characteristics, prey availability and anthropogenic pressure. The camera-trap automatically records the track log of surveys and line transects, as well as authenticates the recorded data on signs and animal sightings.
The last Tiger Census was conducted in 2014, which had reported the presence of five tigers – one male, two females and two cubs.
Around 77 volunteers from Goa, Karnataka, Hyderabad and Madhya Pradesh will assist the forest officials in the survey. They have been provided jungle training by the officials.
The tiger estimation exercise is the world’s largest wildlife survey effort in terms of coverage, intensity of sampling and quantum of camera trapping and the exercise, a part of the All India Tiger Estimate 2018, is expected to give a major boost to declaring certain pockets of protected areas as ‘tiger reserves’.
