Odisha: Tiger Census Begins in Mayurbhanj’s Similipal Tiger Reserve, Kendujhar
The Odisha government started its own tiger census in Similipal Tiger Reserve, Mayurbhanj. The counting will be held from 9 AM to 4 PM.
Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) has been divided into three blocks for smooth counting. The process will continue till October 25, 2023. Notable, NTCA conducted a tiger census a few days back. A report of 20 tigers was given in the state.
But the state government has said that this report is wrong and the counting will be done in Shimilipal South, North, Satkoshia, Bishoi, Kaptipada, and Baripada divisions.
The entire Tiger Reserve has been divided into three blocks. The counting will be held in Block-1, Block-2 & Block-3. As per information around 700 forest department employees from more than 200 beat houses in the Similipal forest will join the exercise. The Forest department plans to deploy all the employees in 209 teams. Similarly, the forest department plans to use more than 500 cameras for the smooth conduct of the tiger census.
Shimilipal Tiger Reserve Deputy Director Samrat Gouda said elaborate arrangement has been made for the census. “We are minutely monitoring the movements of tigers and installing cameras accordingly. Shimilipal Tiger Reserve is a vast area. We have divided the whole reserve into three zones and deployed forest officials accordingly.”
Similarly, the tiger census has started in Kendujhar district. 75 teams have been deployed for the counting. 55 camera has been installed in different areas. The process will continue till November 15, 2023.
Kendujhar DFO Dhanraj H.D said, “We have started the tiger census in Kendujhar district. We have formed 75 teams for the smooth conduct of the tiger census. 55 cameras have been also installed in different locations to identify the tiger. After the end of the census, we will submit a report to the department.”
