India has begun the world’s largest tiger estimation exercise, reaffirming its commitment to the scientific monitoring and conservation of the country’s national animal. The nationwide survey, conducted once every four years, will cover tiger habitats across the country using camera traps, field surveys, genetic analysis, and advanced data-processing techniques to estimate tiger numbers and assess the health of their habitats.
The exercise will involve thousands of frontline forest personnel, wildlife biologists, researchers and volunteers working across India’s tiger reserves and other forest landscapes. The data collected will help authorities understand population trends, identify critical wildlife corridors, evaluate habitat quality and strengthen future conservation strategies.
Alongside the tiger census, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has stepped up efforts to conserve the caracal, one of India’s rarest and least-studied wild cats, in Rajasthan. The programme includes extensive field surveys, habitat mapping, camera trapping, prey assessment and scientific research to better understand the species’ distribution and ecological requirements.
The caracal, known for its distinctive long black ear tufts and remarkable hunting ability, survives in very small numbers in India’s arid and semi-arid landscapes. Conservationists believe that improved scientific monitoring and habitat protection are essential to prevent further decline of the species.
Experts say the simultaneous focus on both the tiger, India’s flagship conservation species, and the caracal, a critically threatened lesser-known predator, reflects a broader commitment to protecting the country’s diverse wildlife. The initiatives are expected to generate valuable scientific data that will guide future conservation policies and strengthen India’s leadership in global wildlife conservation.
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