The All India Tiger Estimation 2026 exercise has officially begun at the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Mayurbhanj, Odisha, marking a major step toward assessing the current status of the tiger population in one of India’s most significant wildlife habitats. Launched by the Forest Department authorities on Saturday, the survey follows the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) protocol and aims to generate accurate, science-backed data to support conservation efforts.

The estimation will be carried out in two major phases, Phase I and Phase III, at the tiger reserve level. Phase I focuses on ground-level surveys to understand carnivore presence and prey availability. It includes a three-day carnivore and mega-herbivore sign survey, a four-day line transect survey, and a one-day vulture and bird species count. This phase began in the Similipal South Division across 103 beats, where 103 trained survey teams have been deployed. The enumeration will continue until November 22, during which data on carnivore occupancy and ungulate density will be systematically collected.

Phase III will involve an extensive camera trapping operation across 1,321 grids, each measuring 2 square kilometers. Nearly 1,500 camera traps will be deployed in two cycles lasting 25 days each. Scheduled to begin on December 1, this phase will start once Phase I is completed. The high-resolution image data gathered through these cameras will help identify individual tigers, monitor their movements, estimate population size, and assess habitat use patterns.

With Similipal being one of India’s oldest and largest tiger reserves, the 2026 estimation process plays a crucial role in strengthening conservation strategies and understanding ecological changes in the region. The combined efforts of trained forest staff, systematic protocols, and advanced monitoring techniques are expected to offer a comprehensive picture of the tiger population and biodiversity health within Similipal Tiger Reserve.