The Koraput Forest Division launched a tiger census on Tuesday across ten forest ranges.
According to Divisional Forest Officer S.K. Pahadsingh, teams began operations in areas including Manabar, Kolab, Koraput Sadar, Mathalput, Dumuripadar, and Dangari.
Ten teams comprising foresters, forest guards, and squad members are conducting the census under the direct supervision of the DFO. The exercise will continue until December 21. Officials confirmed that the survey aims to track tiger presence, movement, and habitat conditions in the region.
The census follows earlier efforts in 2022, when tiger pugmarks were identified in the Jaypur forest range, particularly in the Kalara Pataria area. That discovery raised hopes of tiger activity in Koraput’s forest belt and prompted renewed monitoring initiatives.
Forest authorities emphasised that the current census will provide updated data on tiger distribution and help strengthen conservation strategies. The exercise also seeks to assess prey base, ecological balance, and human-wildlife interactions in vulnerable forest zones.
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