NE FEATURES BUREAU
CHENNAI, JAN 1
The All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2026, the country’s flagship wildlife monitoring programme, is set to commence its sixth cycle next year, reaffirming India’s global leadership in large-scale conservation science. Conducted once every four years, AITE is jointly coordinated by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), with extensive participation from State Forest Departments, trained volunteers and institutions.
Tiger Reserves increased from 46 (2014) to 58 (2025) Covering ~85,000 sq km.#MissionLiFE #ProPlanetPeople#ProjectTiger pic.twitter.com/UocFlA55Cj
— MoEF&CC (@moefcc) December 31, 2025
Recognised as the world’s largest wildlife monitoring initiative, AITE also holds a Guinness World Record for the scale of public and institutional participation. The 2026 exercise will assess the population status of tigers, co-predators, prey species and habitats across India, with the final national report expected in 2027..
- World’s largest wildlife monitoring exercise enters sixth cycle
- Tamil Nadu’s five tiger reserves to play a pivotal role
- Phase-I field surveys scheduled from January to February 2026
- Volunteers, technology and trained staff to power the exercise
Tamil Nadu at the forefront of tiger conservation
Tamil Nadu continues to be one of the country’s leading states in tiger conservation, anchored by its five tiger reserves—Kalakad Mundanthurai, Anamalai, Mudumalai, Sathyamangalam and Srivilliputhur–Megamalai. These landscapes are vital for maintaining ecological balance and ensuring the long-term survival of tigers in the Southern Western Ghats.
According to previous AITE findings, the tiger population in Tamil Nadu rose from 264 in 2018 to 306 in 2022, reflecting sustained conservation efforts, improved habitat management and strong protection measures.
A comprehensive and science-driven exercise
AITE is a highly intensive, science-based assessment that goes beyond counting tigers alone. The estimation covers:
- Monitoring of tigers and co-predators such as leopards, wild dogs and hyenas
- Estimation of prey base, including gaur, sambar, spotted deer and barking deer
- Habitat assessment through sign surveys, line transects, camera trapping and genetic sampling
In addition to notified tiger reserves, all forest divisions with known carnivore presence are included. Private estates with significant tiger or co-predator occurrence are also brought under the survey ambit, ensuring comprehensive landscape-level coverage.
Phase-I schedule notified for early 2026
The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has completed detailed planning for AITE 2026. The Phase-I field exercise is scheduled to begin from January 5, 2026, and will be conducted in seven-day cycles across different forest divisions, continuing until the end of February 2026.
Key features of the 2026 exercise include:
- Deployment of trained frontline forest staff and volunteers
- Use of advanced, technology-based tools such as M-STrIPES and camera traps
- Coverage of all tiger reserves and tiger-bearing areas across the State
Extensive training and capacity-building programmes were conducted between November and December 2025 across all participating divisions to ensure standardised data collection and accuracy.
Call for volunteers
The Forest Department has invited wildlife enthusiasts and trained volunteers to participate in the estimation. Interested individuals are advised to register in advance with the respective tiger reserve offices.
With meticulous planning, scientific rigour and broad participation, All India Tiger Estimation 2026 is expected to further strengthen India’s evidence-based conservation framework and reinforce Tamil Nadu’s role as a cornerstone of tiger conservation in the country.
