All India Tiger Estimation 2026 begins in Adilabad region

The six-day All India Tiger Estimation 2026 has begun across the erstwhile Adilabad district to assess tiger and prey populations. Hundreds of forest staffers and volunteers have been deployed across multiple districts, divisions and ranges to carry out the large-scale exercise.

Adilabad: A six-day All India Tiger Estimation 2026, the largest survey undertaken to assess the occupancy of tigers and their prey, began across the erstwhile Adilabad district on Tuesday.

According to officials, elaborate arrangements were made to ensure the smooth conduct of the exercise. Training for the estimation had already been imparted to staffers and volunteers drawn from various States. As part of the exercise, transect walks covering five kilometres a day are being conducted to estimate carnivores, while participants are tracking two kilometres twice a day to count herbivores during trail walks.

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Forest officials said 244 teams comprising forest staffers and volunteers were deployed to carry out the two-phase survey in 244 beats across 11 ranges in two divisions, Asifabad and Kagaznagar, in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district. The teams will assess carnivore populations during the first three days, while trail walks will be organised to enumerate herbivores, birds and grasses in the remaining three days.

In Mancherial district, 195 teams were formed to cover 195 beats. As many as 150 staffers and 90 volunteers were selected to organise the census in 12 ranges spanning four divisions, Mancherial, Jannaram, Chennur and Bellampalli.

A total of 171 teams were deployed in Adilabad district, covering 171 beats in three divisions and nine ranges.

Similarly, 122 teams were roped in to estimate the population of carnivores and herbivores in Nirmal district. The teams comprised around 250 members, including forest staffers and volunteers. The teams will begin the survey at 6 am and conclude it at 8.30 pm. Volunteers have been provided accommodation and food for taking part in the exercise.

Kumram Bheem Asifabad

• Two divisions with 11 ranges and 244 beats covered by 244 teams.

• A total of 244 staffers and 110 volunteers are involved across 2.42 lakh hectares of forest cover.

Nirmal

• Two divisions with nine ranges and 122 beats covered by 122 teams.

• The exercise involves 122 staffers and 125 volunteers across 1.21 lakh hectares.

Adilabad

• Three divisions with nine ranges and 171 beats covered by 171 teams.

• A total of 120 staffers and 90 volunteers are deployed over 1.82 lakh hectares.

Mancherial

• Four divisions with 12 ranges and 195 beats covered by 195 teams.

• The survey engages 150 staffers and 90 volunteers across 1.76 lakh hectares.