Pre-monsoon animal population estimation begins inMudumalai Tiger Reserve zone

Ooty: The week long pre-monsoon animal population estimation and habitat evaluation in the core zone of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) got underway on Tuesday. MTR sources said that as per the National Tiger Conservation Authority norms, tiger reserves have to conduct two biannual animal population estimation, one during pre-monsoon and one in the post-monsoon period to evaluate the health of the habitat and the population of animals.

“For this year's pre-monsoon animal population estimation purpose, the MTR core zone has been divided into 36 transect lines.

Around 80 members, including MTR staff, volunteers from Green organizations and students are taking part in the evaluation exercise. The teams will study the movement of animals in the respective transect lines and the wealth of the prey base for the tiger and other carnivores, the wealth of flora, fodder availability, water sources in the respective transects. This will give a comprehensive data on the population and movement of big cats and also other animals in the MTR in the pre-monsoon period, as the south west monsoon is about to set in here in June, “ sources said and added that various parameters like direct sighting, identifying footprints and droppings would be taken into account to record the movement of animals.

Data collected will be analysed to compare it with the figures of the previous estimation to ascertain the health and wealth of wildlife and also find out if there are any abnormal changes in any areas to take necessary remedial measures, sources maintained.