All praise

S. Muralidharan, a retired bank manager, is part of the ongoing synchronised tiger census in the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park here. He is all praise for the forest personnel here. "I have taken part in the annual wildlife survey in other sanctuaries too. Here, the experience is overwhelming. The forest managers briefed us on the tasks, and the arrangements are good. The field staff are quite knowledgeable," Mr. Muralidharan says.

The eight-day tiger census began on Wednesday involving over 150 volunteers and forest officials in all the six ranges Ulandy, Pollachi, Valparai, Udumalpet, Amaravathy and Manaboli.

New methodology

K.R. Varadharajan, wildlife warden, who monitored the process from Top Slip, Varagaliyar, Kozhikamuthu, Manomboli, Valparai on Wednesday says that the census that adopts new methodology will yield a more authentic picture.

For the first time, the condition of the ground study such as types of vegetation, status of the habitat has also been taken into account.

The census will focus on three key issues - population of tigers and other predators such as panthers and wild dogs, prey population of the predators, and the status of the habitat.

According to Mr. Varadharajan, the sanctuary is divided into 35 beats with a total of 59 transect lines. Each beat covers 15 sq.km. There will be a thorough search on trails, riverbeds, and footpaths to identify the encounter rate of tiger, leopard or other carnivores. Special emphasis will be on tigresses and cubs, while topography and forest type will also be recorded for each sign.

A field guide in Tamil to conduct the census is given to all the staff and volunteers. With the help of the guide, the enumerators will record the sightings and other data in the information sheets.

The Ulandy Range Officer, S. Thangaraj Pannerselvam, says wildlife enthusiasts have taken part eagerly. The list includes four students and professionals from Salem, Bangalore, Dindigul and other places.

Endangered species

Besides types of vegetation and proportion of grass, herbs, litter and bare ground, the enumerators will analyse whether human or other disturbances prevail. Apart from noting down dominant shrubs, the team will incorporate details on weeds, signs of woodcutting and presence of human settlement.

On day one, Raja Singh of Salem and Jayachandran of Udhagamandalam said they sighted a herd of 25-30 lion-tailed macaques - an endangered species - at Varagaliyar, 60 km from here.

Every other volunteer is happy to sight a range of wild animals from sambar deer, Nilgiri lungur to the bison. The anti-poaching team, comprising tribal youths, assists the enumerators on animal movement.