Bhubaneswar: The tiger census has kicked off at Similipal Wildlife Sanctuary, with forest officials deploying camera traps across the reserve to monitor the big cats.
Nearly 700 camera traps are being installed in phases at about 1,300 locations, covering an area of 2,750 square kilometres. Officials said the cameras are being placed along routes frequently used by tigers to ensure accurate data collection.
“The census is being conducted in dense forest areas where pugmarks and other signs of tiger movement were found. The cameras will also capture images of other wildlife, giving us a better understanding of the sanctuary’s biodiversity,” said a forest official.
The installation of camera traps will continue over the next few weeks. Forest authorities said the data collected will help track tiger numbers and movement patterns, and support conservation efforts in one of Odisha’s key wildlife reserves.
