The winter wildlife census at the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) will begin on December 15.

The seven-day census will cover the reserve area of 1,479sq km spread over the Anaimalai Hills of Pollachi and Udumalpet forest divisions in the Western Ghats region, according to forest sources. ATR is one of the four tiger reserves in Tamil Nadu and includes Sathyamangalam in Erode, Mudumalai in the Nilgiris and Kalakkad Mundathurai spread over Tirunelvi and Kanyakumari districts.

This survey will begin with an orientation programme for volunteers and forest department personnel who would then be assigned beat for the survey.

The annual winter wildlife survey is for six days preceded with a day’s orientation programme to estimate the population of carnivores like tigers, leopards, wild dogs and sloth bear for the first three days followed by herbivores like elephants, Indian Gaur, sambar, spotted, barking and mouse deer. Scientific methods will be deployed by forest field staff and volunteers trained by wildlife biologists.

The forest authorities expect more than 200 participants to help the department collect data. Those interested in the survey should contact the District Forest Officer (Pollachi) and Assistant Director, Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Pollachi, Pollachi Division.

Contact details are:

Tirupur Division : [email protected]

Pollachi Division : [email protected]

The last for applying is December 12.