Forest Department personnel on Saturday began the wildlife census, including the tiger, in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve in the district.About 200 volunteers are involved in the exercise in the six ranges of sprawling 958 square km reserve forest, with 300 cameras set up to watch the movement.

The volunteers are expected to cover about five km a day and collect the data following the animal trails, pug marks, department sources said The winter census will also ascertain the prey base of the tiger.