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The 2006 census, which was conducted under an UNDP scheme, was rejected by the WII saying it was based on archaic methodology.
“Conducting a survey in Sunderbans is extremely difficult because of its terrain. The project, which will take off in February, involves collaring 12 tigers over a period of two years,” said Dr Jayla of the WII. He is in-charge of conducting the tiger census in the state.
Dr Jayla added that since tigers usually do not leave their territories, putting radio collars on them will help in calculating more accurately.
“The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs 80 lakh this year,” he added.
The 2004 tiger census was mainly based on pugmark analysis, which had put the number of tigers in Sunderbans at 274.
Atanu Raha, Chief Conservator (Forest) and Director of Sunderbans Biosphere Reserve, said: “The new census will be based on more scientific methodology like radio collaring and camera trapping.”
Despite renewed efforts of the government, experts, however, have serious doubts about the success of the project. “The radio collars are damaged easily due to saline water and cameras cannot be fixed near ground as the land is submerged during high tide. Moreover, the number of collars is far too less compared to the size of the forest,” said an expert of the WII.
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