Panaji: The Goa leg of the All India Tiger Estimation 2018 would begin across the state from tomorrow, said Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Anil Kumar, adding that camera traps would be extensively used.
The tiger estimation exercise carried out by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the Wildlife Institute of India and respective state forest departments is the world”s largest wildlife survey effort in terms of coverage, the intensity of sampling and quantum of camera trapping, said officials.
The national status assessment exercise provides details such as the size of tiger population, extent, covariates of prey, co-predators, habitat and human impact, officials informed.
Speaking about the Goa leg, Kumar said that the survey would conclude on June 1 this year.
He said that the census would be conducted in three phases across 67 transit points spread over all five protected areas of Goa.
“The first phase, lasting for three days, will survey carnivores while the next three days would be to count the number of herbivores. The two phases will conclude on May 6,” said Kumar.
He informed that following the end of the first two phases, the forest department, based on where tigers are reported, will place camera traps.
He said that a trained team of 77 volunteers from Goa, Karnataka, Hyderabad and Madhya Pradesh would assist officials in the survey.
The last tiger census, conducted in 2014, had reported the presence of two female, one male and two cubs in Goa, said, officials.
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