All Set for Tiger Estimation From January 20; Nearly 2,000 Sign Up to Count Tigers

Hyderabad: Citizen volunteers are all set to play a key role in the six-day All India Tiger Estimation starting from January 20 to 26 with nearly 1,900 of them expected to take part in the exercise in all but six districts of the state, making this the biggest such exercise in Telangana so far. They will be joining the around 4,200 forest officials and staff during the six day exercise.

All the volunteers whose applications for taking part in the tiger estimation have been approved, are being informed. They will have to report at their designated locations on January 19 and will be briefed about the tasks each will perform during the trail and transect walks, and will join forest department staff for the exercise from the next day, a forest department official said.

The AITE will be taken up in all the 3,053 forest beats in the state. In Hyderabad, Suryapet, Warangal, Jangaon, Jogulamba Gadwal, and Karimnagar districts, the forest department have adequate staff and will not need volunteers.

Mulugu district will be the only one which will not be joining the January 20- 26 All India Tiger Estimation, with forest officials putting off the exercise in the district to February due to the Medaram maha jatara.

The exercise involves three days – January 20 to 22 – of trail walks, and for the next three days – from January 23 to 26 – transect walks. The first three days will be ‘carnivore trail walks’ followed by transect walks for observations on herbivore presence. While trail walks will be of 5 km in one direction, transect walks will be 2 km in one direction.

During the first phase, walks will be along animal trails in a search for signs left behind by tigers, leopards, and other carnivorous animals. During transect walks that will cut through the forest whether a trail exists or not, details of presence of herbivores including various species of deer, as well as wild boar, will be noted.

The department will be providing very basic accommodation and food for the volunteers at their designated forest beats, and for many, it could be a great first experience in understanding how wildlife estimations are done, the official added.

Volunteers will be required to sign a declaration that they understand the nature of work and the possible risks they may face while walking deep inside the jungles, the official added.

All India Tiger Estimation, 2026

Forest beats: 3,053

Volunteers: 1,900

Forest staff: 4,200

10 highest forest beat districts

Bhadradri Kothagudem: 492

Mulugu: 307

KB Asifabad: 244

Mancherial: 195

Nagarkurnool: 191

JS Bhupalapally: 175

Mahabubabad: 174

Adilabad – 171

Kamareddy – 119

Medak – 98

10 lowest forest beat districts

Jogulamba Gadwal – 2

Warangal (Urban)/Hanamkonda – 4

Jangaon – 5

Hyderabad – 9

Karimnagar – 9

Narayanpet -12

Suryapet – 16

Warangal (Rural) – 16

Yadadri Bhongir – 17

Medchal-Malkajgiri – 18