The World’s Largest Wildlife Survey

India is preparing for the next All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) in 2026 — the world’s largest and most detailed wildlife survey. With over 3,682 tigers recorded in 2022, nearly 75 per cent of the global wild population, the upcoming census goes beyond counting stripes; it measures the pulse of the country’s ecosystems, from prey density to forest health.

Phase 1: The Groundwork of Tracking and Observation

The first stage of the census begins with forest guards walking designated transects across tiger reserves and forest ranges. Over three days, each guard covers around fifteen kilometres, scanning for indirect signs such as pugmarks, claw marks, scat, and remains of prey. They also record prey sightings — deer, sambar, and other herbivores — to gauge food availability. Alongside this, vegetation studies track tree, shrub, and grass density, while signs of human presence like cattle dung or wood cutting assess habitat pressure.

Phase 2: Satellites and Data Analytics

Once ground data is collected, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in Dehradun integrates it with satellite imagery to analyse forest cover, terrain, water resources, and human encroachment. Remote sensing helps identify critical habitats, wildlife corridors, and stress zones. This digital layer builds the foundation for the camera-trap phase, ensuring that the next stage targets areas with the highest likelihood of tiger movement.

Phase 3: Cameras and Stripe Identification

The third phase, often the most visible, involves setting up over 40,000 camera traps across a grid of four-square-kilometre sections in tiger landscapes. Each grid typically holds two cameras, strategically placed near trails, waterholes, or ridgelines identified during Phase 1. Cameras stay in position for about 25 days, capturing images later analysed with software that identifies individual tigers through unique stripe patterns. Karnataka alone identified 563 tigers in 2022 through this process.

Exam Oriented Facts

• The All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) covers over 400,000 sq km across 20+ states.
• More than 60,000 personnel and 40,000 camera traps are deployed.
• Karnataka recorded 563 tigers in the 2022 census.
• Cubs under two years are not counted in the official tiger population.

Why the 2026 Census Matters

Beyond the numbers, the tiger census informs India’s conservation strategies — identifying where protection is succeeding, where conflict is rising, and where new corridors or reserves are needed. Karnataka’s five tiger reserves — Bandipur, Nagarahole, Bhadra, Kali, and BRT — remain central to the effort. Yet, the focus is increasingly shifting to forest fringes and plantation areas where tigers and humans overlap. The AITE stands as a global benchmark for wildlife monitoring, blending traditional tracking, satellite technology, and AI-driven analytics — a model that demonstrates how science and fieldwork together sustain one of the world’s greatest conservation stories.