Tiger Census Begins In Odisha, Number Expected To Rise

Bhubaneswar: The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in association with the State Forest Department started tiger census in Odisha on Wednesday.

It has been predicted that the number of tigers will be increased this year, as all most all the districts of Odisha are in focus.

In 2014 and 2016, there was controversy regarding the tiger census in Odisha. This year, the Forest Department is focusing on the actual number of tigers in the state to avoid any controversy.

WII conducted the second counting with satellite help. The third phase was started with the help of camera trap from today. While most of the places were already covered, counting is underway in the south and western part of Odisha.

All the data will be given to the WII, which will observe and produce the final report after modeling and using statistical methods.

Notably, The Odisha government has counted 40 tigers in the state forests in an exercise that is being seen as a counter to the 2014 National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) count that had pegged the figure at 28, which had triggered a controversy.

Chief Wildlife Warden, Sandeep Thripathy said, “We will cover areas like Khariar and Sunabeda this year. We have done the complete exercise as per protocol. I think there will be no reason for controversies and conflict this year. I hope we will arrive at a mutually acceptable figure with the NTCA.”