Elephants, gaurs being counted

Their size and visibility makes them easier to track

In the ongoing exercise to enumerate the tiger numbers at Bandipur and Nagarahole, the elephants and the gaurs too are standing out to be counted in high numbers. For, their size and their visibility in plain sight makes them easier to track unlike tigers that tend to lurk in the shadows, hide in the bushes or are easily camouflaged by the surrounding vegetation.

“It is not just the tigers but even the elephants and gaurs are being counted as part of the All India Tiger and Mega Herbivore Enumeration,” said Mahesh Kumar, Director, Nagarahole Tiger Reserve.

But it is pertinent to note that the tiger estimation exercise does not rely on direct sighting of the big cat nor is it about individual counts but of estimating a population range. It also takes into account the camera trap images as part of Phase IV of the survey. Besides, other telltale signs like scat, pug and scratch marks, etc., are considered before the scientists analyze the data and arrive at a figure based on various parameters.