Bhubaneswar: In view of the questionable accuracy of the latest tiger census report of the Centre, the Odisha Government has decided to count the big cats in the State next year.
The number of tigers in Odisha revealed in the report by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is “incorrect”, said Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) Ajay Mohapatra. He raised suspicion over the counting of tigers following the report of fourth cycle of All India Tiger Estimation. According to the NTCA’s census report, the tiger population in Odisha has remained stagnant at 28 between two surveys in 2014 and 2018. It pointed out that the number of tigers in the State was 45 in 2006 and the figure dropped to 32 in 2010. Mohapatra alleged that the new forest divisions have not been included in the NTCA’s count.
The census technique was based only on camera-traps, for which the accurate data are not reflected, he said. The State Government would carry out an accurate counting in March 2020 to know the tiger population, he informed.
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