Phase III Tiger Estimation at PTR kicks off with 940 camera traps across reserve
Phase III Tiger Estimation at PTR kicks off with 940 camera traps across reserve
Periyar Tiger Reserve begins phase III, deploying 940 camera traps across 470 grids for a 30-day tiger monitoring window to improve population estimates.
A new phase of the All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) began at the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Thekkady on Wednesday. Officials say 470 grids have been established across the reserve: 353 in the PTR East Division and 117 in the PTR West Division. To ensure comprehensive sampling, 940 camera traps have been deployed throughout the tiger-bearing areas. Frontline staff and associated personnel underwent training on February 10, 2026. The sampling will run for 30 days, ending March 27, 2026, following national protocols to capture adequate photographs and recaptures for reliable population estimates.
PTR has been divided into two-square-kilometre grids, with two camera traps in each grid to photograph both flanks of passing tigers. This dual-camera setup is crucial for identifying unique stripe patterns and enabling precise individual identification. PTR serves as a vital source population for tigers within the Periyar-Agasthyamalai landscape and shares habitat connectivity with the Srivilliputhur-Meghamalai and Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserves in Tamil Nadu.
To maintain data quality, cameras are inspected every four days to check battery levels, memory capacity, alignment, and potential damage from wildlife or the environment. After sampling, photographic data will be compiled and analyzed for stripe-pattern matching before being submitted to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The progress of the ongoing phase is being supervised by officials.
This phase underscores a broader effort to accurately estimate tiger numbers and strengthen conservation planning in Tamil Nadu, highlighting the critical role of landscape connectivity in sustaining tiger populations across protected areas.
