Kerala begins census of big cats at Periyar Tiger Reserve forest
- The census would be taken between 17 October and 17 November.
- Camera Traps are used to capture images of animals.
- The images would be later send to National Tiger Conservation Authority who would study the images and release official figures later.
FollowWith the help of innovative techniques, the Kerala forest department has begun the census of Tigers at Periyar Tiger Reserve forest in Idukki.
Officials are using 'camera traps', a simple hassle-free equipped with a motion and infrared sensors at various locations to capture the wild beasts in the forest.
Authorities have divided the 925 sq. km. reserve forest into 252 blocks. Two camera traps would be installed at each block two feets above the ground level to monitor the animals. For the census, 502 cameras are brought to record accurate data without disturbing the wildlife.
The cameras can also capture videos if the animals stay a bit longer before the equipment.
The census would be taken between 17 October and 17 November. The images will be later send to the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the unique stripe pattern found on each tiger is different which would help officials to record the number of tigers at Periyar Tiger Reserve forest.
The method would also help to monitor other wild animals during the process.
According to figures released by the Union Environment Ministry in 2015, the tiger population in India has increased 30 per cent in the past three years. The number rose from 1,706 in 2011 to 2,226 in 2014.
Figures also showed that Karnataka had the highest number of tigers in the age group of 1.5 years and more at 408. Followed by 340 in Uttarakhand, 308 in Madhya Pradesh, 229 in Tamil Nadu, 190 in Maharashtra, 136 in Kerala and 117 in Uttar Pradesh.
