Tiger Population Unknown as Wildlife Census Begins in Chittoor Forests

Forest officials have launched a fresh wildlife census in the Palamaner and Kuppam forest ranges to assess the population of tigers, elephants and other animals, as reliable data on their numbers is currently unavailable.

The survey, being conducted under the All India Tiger Estimation programme, will cover forest areas in both regions. The exercise follows the reported failure of a census conducted in December last year due to technical problems with the mobile application used to record wildlife data. The results of that exercise were not released.

Preliminary estimates put the elephant population at around 100, while the forests are believed to be home to seven panthers, seven bears and nearly 2,000 deer and other similar animals. However, the tiger population in the region remains unknown. Officials have also estimated that smaller wildlife species number in the thousands.

Elephants began entering the region in 1983 after migrating from the Mudumalai forest area. Their numbers gradually increased as they adapted to the local environment. Tigers and other wildlife are also believed to have subsequently moved into these forests.

Forest officials said wildlife censuses would be conducted once every four years to assess animal populations. As part of the ongoing exercise, forest personnel will collect data across forest stretches measuring 15 to 20 sq. km. Tiger numbers will be assessed based on territorial patterns and other evidence gathered during the survey. The government has supplied the necessary equipment to forest staff.

Wildlife mortality remains a major concern in the region. Officials said around 70 elephants had died in the Palamaner and Kuppam forest areas over the years. Two bears and a panther had also died, while hundreds of deer and similar animals had been killed after getting caught in hunters' traps or in road accidents.