Forest dept. train staff for evaluation of tiger census

Dimapur, Feb. 9 (EMN): As a precursor to the upcoming tiger estimation in tiger habitat regions of the state, a training camp was conducted for the field staff at the Forest dept. office complex in Dimapur on Feb. 9. The department updated about the programme on Fri. The training camp consisted of briefings followed by a mock drill in estimating wildlife including tigers. Speaking at the programme, principal chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden, Satya Prakash Tripathi spoke on the importance of tigers as the top predator in forests. He explained about the presence of and movement of tigers in Nagaland forests earlier, which has now reduced. Suman WM Sivachar, wildlife warden of Kiphire who is also the All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2018 nodal officer for the state highlighted that the tiger status in the country has been undertaken earlier in three cycles with a gap of four years across the country, in the years 2006, 2010 and 2014. Tiger population estimation is determined by a variety of factors that include finding out of habitat characteristics, prey availability and anthropogenic (human) pressures, he said. Rajkumar M shared the importance of the tiger census and how it will help conserve the forests of Nagaland. He educated the staff regarding the various wildlife signs. He urged the field staff to collect the data with utmost care since this will showcase the treasures of Nagaland to the world. The training was organised in preparation to first ever tiger census to be conducted as a part of AITE, 2018 under the aegis of the Wildlife Wing, department of Environment Forests & Climate Change, the press release informed.