12/12/2016 100 thermal imaging cameras to pry on wild cats in Kalakkad ­ Mundanthurai tiger reserve ­ Times of India

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100 thermal imaging cameras to pry on wild cats in

Kalakkad - Mundanthurai tiger reserve
TNN | Apr 7, 2012, 03.07 AM IST

TIRUNELVELI: The wild cats in the Kalakkad - Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR), one of the three tiger habitats in Tamil
Nadu, are being watched by 100 thermal imaging cameras this year.

This is the first time that the cameras are used in such high numbers to track the tigers in the thick woods of the tiger reserve
in a bid to get a better estimation of the presence of the tigers. Last year, about 40 cameras were used for monitoring the
presence of the wild cats. "Also, this year the cameras are installed in a grid spread across 400 sq km of the 890 sq km tiger
reserve. In 2011, the cameras were installed in vantage points covering just 80 sq km," said D Venkatesh, deputy director of
KMTR.

Forest officials say that the exercise could not be termed as census and the exact number of tigers could not be arrived at.
Instead, it is a monitoring and tracking effort which would provide data that could help in estimating the number of tigers in the
reserve. "We have estimated that there are about 15 to 18 tigers in KMTR according to data collected last year. This year's
estimation would be made after 90 days," said Venkatesh.

The exercise began on March 29 with teams of volunteers numbering about 185 sent into the forest for four days to look out
for direct evidences like sighting of tigers and indirect evidence like pug marks and scat. The 100 cameras, equipped to
automatically take pictures sensing thermal radiations even in the dark, were installed at vantage points in tiger corridors ad
water bodies. "A set of two cameras have been installed at 50 spots in 200 sq km area. After 45 days, these cameras would be
placed in another 200 sq km area so that 400 sq km would be covered in 90 days," said Venkatesh.

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12/12/2016 100 thermal imaging cameras to pry on wild cats in Kalakkad ­ Mundanthurai tiger reserve ­ Times of India

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) extended funds to buy the imported cameras each costing Rs 20,000 along
with the memory card. Unlike previous years when only 40 cameras were used in just 80 sq km area, this year, the exercise is
expected to yield a more accurate estimation of the tiger population. Two employees have been assigned to monitor the
camera recordings. The data from the camera would be processed and sent to NTCA and Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun
for observation and inference.

Forest officials hoped that the exercise this year would help them to ascertain their belief that tiger population had increased in
the reserve due to their efforts. "Human movement is the biggest deterrent for tigers. We had prohibited people from visiting
places like Podhigaimalai, Thaipaagam, upper Kodhayar and interior areas of Manjolai," said a forest official.

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