Anamalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu has begun preparations for the All India Tiger Estimation 2026 with a field census using the upgraded Monitoring System for Tigers – Intensive Protection and Ecological Status, or MSTrIPES, app. The survey will record tiger and other wildlife signs, habitat details and transect data digitally during enumeration across the reserve.
Survey Coverage in Anamalai
The census will be conducted in Anamalai Tiger Reserve, which spans 1,108 sq. km across Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts. It includes 958.5 sq. km of core area and 150.48 sq. km of buffer zone. More than 340 forest staff from eight ranges will take part in the exercise. They will work along 115 transect lines. The survey is scheduled to conclude on January 14.
Use of MSTrIPES App
Forest staff have been trained to use the MSTrIPES app directly in the field. Earlier, they recorded animal signs and GPS details on forms before uploading them later. Now, they will enter data on the app itself. The system will capture:
- Signs of tigers, leopards and other wild animals.
- GPS-tagged locations of sightings and indirect evidence.
- Distance covered by enumerators on transect lines.
- Habitat details such as trees, grasses and shrubs.
Survey Phases and Wildlife Assessment
The exercise will include large carnivore and megaherbivore sign surveys from January 8 to 10. This will be followed by prey estimation surveys from January 11 to 13. Staff will also assess arboreal animals such as the bonnet macaque and Indian giant squirrel, along with their pellets and other field signs. The first day will be used for training, while the final day will be for data compilation.
Tiger Presence and Conservation Significance
Officials expect tiger numbers in Anamalai to rise further in the new census. After the 2022 estimation, 25 tigers were identified in ATR, while 57 to 58 tigers were recorded in ATR and the adjoining Parambikulam Tiger Reserve together. Forest managers have also noted tiger presence in the Kolumam forest range, which lies in the buffer zone, and evidence of newborn cubs in the Ulanthy forest range. The reserve has seen a steady rise in tiger numbers from 10 in 2014 to 15 in 2018 and 25 in 2022.
Last Modified: April 25, 2026