Bengaluru: Preparations are being done for the new tiger census for the year 2018 (AITE-2018) in Karnataka, which has the fame of having the most number of tigers in the country (406 tigers during the last census). For the first time, census will be conducted in reserved forests, along with tiger sanctuaries.

Moreover, ‘Ecological app’, the developed version of the old ‘M-swipe app’, developed by a wildlife institution of Dehradun will be used in the census. This simple android app would help to decrease mistakes that happen during the census.

The census conducted once in four years census will be held in four stages. The officials of the wildlife zone and areas including tiger sanctuary, Eco-Tourism Board certified volunteers and students of Forestry/Wildlife Colleges will participate in the census. During the 8 days of the census in the first phase, carnivorous and herbivorous animal survey and study of their habitats will be done.

There will be training in tiger sanctuaries from January 1 to 7, preparation for the field work and mock census will be conducted. A survey will be conducted from January 8 to January 16. Training will be conducted in reserved forests from January 15 to 20, preparation for the field work and mock census will be conducted. A survey will be conducted from January 22 to January 30, said sources.

This time cameras will be fixed outside the reserved forest as well. Moreover, Safaris have been banned during the census from January 7 to 13 at tiger sanctuaries, said a government order.