Anamalai Tiger Reserve Adopts Digital MSTrIPES App for Upcoming National Wildlife Census
In a significant technological upgrade for wildlife conservation, forest personnel at Tamil Nadu’s Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) will utilise the advanced Monitoring System for Tigers: Intensive Protection and Ecological Status (MSTrIPES) application during the imminent tiger and wildlife census. This digital shift is part of the broader All India Tiger Estimation Survey 2026 and is expected to markedly enhance the accuracy, efficiency, and integration of ecological data collected.
Embracing a Digital Methodology for Enhanced Enumeration
Previously, field staff recorded signs of wildlife—such as pugmarks, scat, and claw marks—on paper, with data uploaded to the digital platform at a later stage. Under the revamped process, trained personnel will now input all census information directly into the MSTrIPES app using GPS-enabled devices while in the field. This real-time data entry covers tiger signs, evidence of other large carnivores and megaherbivores, sightings of arboreal species, vegetation details, and exact distances covered along predefined transect lines. Forest officials highlight that this immediate digital logging reduces errors associated with manual transcription and speeds up the entire compilation process.
Census Schedule and Extensive Field Coverage
The rigorous survey operation is set to follow a structured timeline. It will commence with dedicated training sessions for the participating staff. The sign survey for large carnivores and megaherbivores is scheduled for January 8 to 10 , followed by prey population estimation exercises from January 11 to 13 . The field component will conclude on January 14 . Over 340 forest staff from eight forest ranges will undertake this systematic data collection across 115 transect lines within the reserve’s diverse terrain.
Profile of Anamalai Tiger Reserve
The Anamalai Tiger Reserve , situated across the Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts of Tamil Nadu, encompasses 1,108 square kilometres . This includes a core area of 958.5 sq km and a buffer zone of 150.48 sq km . The census will not only focus on indirect signs of tigers and leopards but will also systematically enumerate arboreal species like the bonnet macaque and the Indian giant squirrel . Assessments of herbivore populations through pellet count methods and vegetation analysis will also form a critical part of the ecological status evaluation.
Context of Tiger Population Trends
The last All India Tiger Estimation in 2022 reported approximately 25 tigers within Anamalai Tiger Reserve's boundaries. Furthermore, about seven to eight individuals were identified as shared with the neighbouring Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, bringing the total for this interconnected landscape to 57–58 tigers . Reserve authorities express cautious optimism for a population increase in the upcoming count. This optimism stems from recent confirmed tiger activity in the Kolumam buffer range and reported sightings of newborn cubs in the Ulanthy forest range, indicating healthy breeding activity.
Key Facts for Examinations:
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MSTrIPES is a digital monitoring tool developed for tiger and ecosystem conservation.
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The All India Tiger Estimation is a quadrennial (once every four years) national assessment.
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Anamalai Tiger Reserve is located in the state of Tamil Nadu .
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Month: Current Affairs - January 10, 2026
Category: technology adoption & conservation significance