Baripada: Forest department authorities on Saturday launched the All India Tiger Estimation–2026 exercise at the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district.

The exercise marks the commencement of a comprehensive assessment of the tiger population in the reserve. ADVERTISEMENT

As per the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) protocol, the estimation will be conducted in two phases, Phase I and Phase III at the tiger reserve level.

Phase I will include a three-day carnivore and mega-herbivore sign survey, followed by a four-day line transect survey and a one-day count of vultures and other bird species, officials said.

The Phase I exercise began in the Similipal South Division on Saturday across 103 beats, with 103 trained survey teams deployed for the task. Th

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