Wildlife Monitoring

Tiger Monitoring

Tiger monitoring is of utmost importance as it helps in assessing the number of tigers and other species, and also their movement patterns, state of health, sex, age etc., and will help in combating poaching and conserving the habitat.

Primarily, it occurs through 2 methods – 1) through Pugmarks 2) through camera traps

There will be basecamps in strategically important areas and the Protection watchers who are mostly from Chenchu tribes, patrol the area and record all the data – direct sightings, indirect sightings and other observations in an Android app named- “M-Stripes” [ Monitoring System for Tigers – Intensive Protection and Ecological Status] by N.T.C.A- National Tiger Conservation Authority.

The camera traps are generally of 20Mega pixels specification, and generally one paid of camera traps are placed per 2Sq.km grid. They’re placed for around 40-45 days and they capture photographs whenever any movement is detected by the internal sensors.

All the data thus received will be analysed on monthly basis, and these inputs will help in framing management plan, and gives us an idea regarding which locations are better to take up works related to habitat improvement – grassland management, soil & moisture conservation works – constructing check dams & rock fill dams, where the protection has to be strengthened etc.,

Thus, tiger monitoring forms an important base for tiger conservation plan.

Estimation of Individual Tigers

The pugmarks of tiger serve the purpose for tracking, identification of sexes, age and census.

The freshness of the marked trail of pugmarks indicates the time and the direction of the animal’s movement.

The foot prints of male tiger are wider and squarish, while that of the tigresses are more rectangular. The pugmark of one tiger is different from that of another.

Normally, the impressions of the hind feet alone are visible because in a normal gait, the hind paws are placed very close to over the impression vacated by the fore feet on the same side.

Only when the tiger moves faster than normal pace whereby the hind feet overshoot the fore feet mark, impression of all the four feet can be seen.

Pugmark Method

Front pugs are larger than hind pugs.
In a front pug, the forwardmost points of the two middle toes are almost at the same level.
In hind paws, the forward most points of the two middle toes are distinctly at different levels.
In male tigers, the Pugmark Breadth (PMB) of the front pug is mostly greater than its Pugmark Length (PML).
Since front pugs are used for killing prey, injuries if any, are sustained on front paws. Wherever existing, these may be visible on front Pugmarks and may serve as a conclusive identification feature of a specific animal.

Camera Trap Method

Capturing the Images

Two automatic cameras are placed on either side of the trail in each selected location to photograph either flank of a Tiger for proper individual identification.

Each camera trap image is given a unique number and all locations are plotted on the map to organize the data generated by each camera trap.

Identification of Individuals

Tigers have different stripe patterns even on both the flanks of the same animal, like fingerprints of humans. All Tigers can be individually identified based on stripe pattern.

After capturing the images, identification of individual Tigers and estimation of Tiger Population is done by using the WILD-ID Software. The stripe pattern is extracted by the software from each image and compared against all others to give unique count of individual Tigers.

Block Number	District	Division	Range
Block-I	Nandyal & Prakasam	Atmakur & Markapur	Atmakur, Nagaluty, Srisailam & Dornala
Block-II	Nandyal & Prakasam	Atmakur, Markapur, Nandyal & Giddalur	Bairluty, Velgode, Dornala, Nandyal, GBM, Bandi Atmakur, Chalama, Gundlakamma & Turimella
Block-III	Prakasam & Palnadu	Markapur	G.V. Palli, Y.Palem & V.P.South
Corridor	Nandyal, Prakasam & Kadapa	Nandyal, Giddalur, Kadapa & Proddatur	Rudravaram, Chalama, Giddalur, Gundlakamma, Ontimitta, Siddavatam, Kadapa, Rayachoti, Badwel, Onipenta & Porumamila

Statement showing the details of Block wise Camera Trap Locations and Camera Traps during the year 2021-2022

Status of Phase –IV implementation during 2020-21

The Phase-IV monitoring for 2020-21 was completed in four Blocks i.e., (Block-I), (Block-II), (Block-III) of NSTR and Corridor (Block-IV)

Sl. No	Activity	Time line
Sl. No	Activity	Block-I (161 Locations)	Block-III (152 Locations)	Block-II (234 Locations)	Corridor (Block-IV) (150 Locations)
1	Commencement of camera trapping	10-11-2020	19-01-2021	15-03-2021	15-05-2021
2	Data collection of 1st round (After 20 days)	29-11-2020	10-02-2021	03-04-2021	04-06-2021
3	Removal of cameras from field (After 45 days)	20-12-2020	05-03-2021	30-04-2021	29-06-2021
4	Data submission	10.01.2021	28.03.2021	20.05.2021	Under progress

M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers - Intensive Protection & Ecological Status)

Monitoring System for Tigers – Intensive Protection and Ecological Status (M-STrIPES) is a software-based monitoring system launched in Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in collaboration with National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)

Aim:

Analysis of Patrol data received from the Field staff of all Ranges in Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve generating Tabular, Graphical and Spatial reports after entering data into the MSTrIPES software.

Objectives:

The Park manager can have a brief idea about their jurisdiction through the reports generated like:

The Patrolling effort of Field staff in the respective Ranges
Human Impact Index Report indicating the Human presence, Cattle grazing, Fires and NTFP collection etc.,
The patrolling routes surveyed by the field staff in their beats
The comparison of patrolling intensity in all Ranges of the Tiger Reserve
The distribution of Carnivores and Herbivores through direct and indirect evidences can be viewed on spatial map
The Ecological module on the other hand enable to understand the vegetation in the Tiger Reserve over the years

Collection of M-STrIPES:

MSTrIPES consists of three components :

Data Collection by Field Staff
Data Entry & Storage
Analysis and Interpretation (Numerical and Graphical) at desired Spatial temporal scales.

The patrolling component of this program gives spatial coverage and intensity of patrol effort across the protected area while ecological component monitors the status of habitat and fauna.

Maps and Reports:

The software has built-in GIS based reporting tool. The reports have been divided into two categories: Spatial Analysis and Non-Spatial Analysis

Spatial Analysis

Non-Spatial Analysis

Foot Patrolling report March, 2021 & April, 2021 in NSTR

Foot Patrolling during March, 2021

Division	Target	Achievement	% of achievement
1) Atmakur	4000	5777	144
2) Markapur	3475	3626	104
3) Nandyal	930	952	102
4) Giddalur	1395	1073	77
Total:	9800	11428	117

Foot Patrolling during April, 2021

Division	Target	Achievement	% of achievement
1) Atmakur	3750	6482	172
2) Markapur	3450	3251	94
3) Nandyal	1350	1454	108
4) Giddalur	900	840	93
Total:	9450	12027	127