Bhubaneswar: With the goal “Conserve today for a wilder tomorrow” Debrigarh authorities for the first time have encouraged participation of college and school students in the upcoming All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2025-26.
Collaborating with the colleges and high schools adjoining Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary will be instrumental for growing understanding among institutions and organizations involving youth voices in wildlife conservation.
As many as 46 students of Dunguri College, Kamgaon College and Lakhanpur High School will be participating in the upcoming census at Debrigarh during November. By engaging youth, we create a generation of future leaders, ‘ambassadors of Debrigarh’ and decision makers who shall be motivated to continue conservation efforts in the Sanctuary. This will also bring creative energy, enthusiasm and passion and can inspire community efforts for conservation in this landscape. More than 50 such educational institutions adjoining Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary have been taken into look as a long term approach, said report.
It is learnt that training of these 46 students with respect to sampling protocols, data collection, different types of herbivores and carnivores to be surveyed during census has started from October 28 and shall continue until first week of November. Their knowledge building shall include understanding of signs, pugmarks, foot prints, scraps, vocalization, other marks like scent/ rake marks.
Total 26 census units have been formed in Debrigarh Sanctuary and 80 Forest Frontline Officials will be participating in the upcoming census to be started from 2nd week of November. Besides, 107 Camera Traps have been deployed and will be covering 120 number of 2km by 2km gridson rotation basis. The sampling shall include “Sign Survey” and “Camera Trapping”. The scientific analysis of data shall assesses the status of carnivores, prey species (herbivores & mega herbivores) and their abundance, human impacts on habitat and habitat status.
It is pertinent to mention that the previous AITE was carried out during the year 2022. During the year 2023 estimation of prey density and number of leopard as calculated by the Debrigarh authorities during pre-monsoon sign survey was recorded as around 30 Sambar per sq.km (density), 45 Gaur per sq. km (density), 65 Wild Boar per sq.km (density). Overall prey density was found to be 46 (number/sq. km). Prey Density was 38 (number/sq. km) during All India Tiger Estimation – 2017 of Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary. By pugmark method, the 2023 pre-monsoon sign survey result showed a tentative number of 82 leopards in the Debrigarh Sanctuary.
The Summer Census of Gaur population carried out from 11.05.2025 to 13.05.2025 and the overall population of Gaur was found to be 788 including 315 number of juveniles.
