Mysore/Mysuru: The 8-day protocol Phase-1 exercise for the annual Tiger Census began at Nagarahole Tiger Reserve yesterday. 

As a prelude, a refresher training about Phase-1 was held on Jan. 26 by Bengaluru Tiger Cell’s Vinay and Deputy Range Forest Officer (DRFO) Nandan at Veeranahosahalli.

The Phase-1 exercise will be held till Feb. 6.

C. Harshavardhan, Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, informed that a team of the Department personnel led by a Beat Officer will be in charge of the exercise and carry out Sign Survey and the presence of Carnivores and Mega Herbivores will be recorded in MSTrIPES – Ecological App. Around 300 personnel are being involved in the ongoing exercise.

Giving more details of the Tiger Census, the DCF said that Nagarahole has 91 beats, with each having at least 1 transect. “Each of these will be covered by the Census staff for the next 3-6 days. Prey density and vegetation plot survey will be carried out in each Line transects. Direct sightings of Prey Species on the transect will be logged with the help of Range finders and compass. The Camera trapping exercise conducted once in four years was completed last month and the details will be analysed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA),” added DCF C. Harshavardhan.