Census
What is a census?
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population (Source: Wikipedia.com). A wildlife census determines three things: (1) the abundance and distribution of wildlife species, (2) the trend in species numbers compared with past counts, and (3) the extent of human activities in the ecosystem. This information is used to identify threats to wildlife and design conservation activities that address these threats. (Source: African wildlife foundation,
www.awf.org)
Information on the distribution of tigers in Periyar Tiger Reserve is analysed annually based on sign survey carried out by the Tiger Monitoring Team, as well as from daily reports of wildlife encounters by staff during routine patrolling. In addition, data on encounter rate is also being collectd as part of the Al India Tiger Monitoring Programme and camera trapping exercises every year.
Details of estimation of tigers in PTR
Year of Census |
Carried out by |
Number of Tigers in PTR |
Technique used |
1978 |
KFD |
34 |
Pugmark method |
1987 |
KFD |
45 |
1988 |
KFD |
45 |
1989 |
KFD |
46 |
1991 |
KFD |
46 |
1993 |
KFD/KFRI |
33 |
1995 |
KFD |
39 |
1996 |
KFD |
30 |
1997 |
KFD/KFRI |
40 |
2000 |
KFD |
36 |
2002 |
Easa |
21 |
2002 |
KFD/KFRI |
29±3 |
2006 |
WII |
23* |
Camera trap technique |
2008 |
Tiger Reserve Management |
24** |
* - Estimation is for the landscape unit with an extent of 2,314 km2 of tiger occupancy habitat.
** - In 640km2 of the TR 24 adult tigers are estimated.
Census figures of mammalian species from 1978 to 2002 in Periyar Tiger Reserve
# |
Name of the Animal |
1978 |
1987 |
1988 |
1989 |
1991 |
1993 |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 |
2000 |
2002 |
1 |
Bonnet macaque |
10 troops |
50 Nos. |
65 Nos. |
32 Nos. |
* |
43 Nos. |
* |
* |
4.84 D |
128 Nos. |
102 Nos./0.0759 D |
2 |
LTM |
11 troops |
200 Nos. |
235 Nos. |
182 Nos. |
* |
90 Nos. |
* |
* |
60 Nos. |
178 Nos. |
210 Nos. |
3 |
Nilgiri Langur |
170 troops |
300 Nos. |
839 Nos. |
765 Nos. |
* |
1530 Nos. |
* |
* |
6.59 D/155 Nos. |
322 Nos. |
573 Nos. (0.6495 D) |
4 |
Sambar deer |
452 Nos. |
490 Nos. |
560 Nos. |
580 Nos. |
* |
10.37 D |
* |
* |
86 Nos./0.27 D |
57 Nos. |
249 Nos. (0.2495 D) |
5 |
Gaur |
100 Nos. |
350 Nos. |
378 Nos. |
412 Nos. |
* |
1.59 D |
* |
* |
108 Nos./0.42D |
201 Nos. |
438 Nos. (0.5376 D) |
6 |
Tiger |
34 Nos. |
45 Nos. |
45 Nos. |
46 Nos. |
46 Nos. |
33 Nos. |
39 Nos. |
30 Nos. |
40 Nos. |
36 Nos. |
32 Nos. |
7 |
Leopard |
14 Nos. |
26 Nos. |
27 Nos. |
21 Nos. |
* |
7 D |
* |
* |
|
23 Nos. |
8 Nos. |
8 |
Wild dog |
49 packs |
55 Nos. |
64 Nos. |
62 Nos. |
* |
216.6 D/E |
* |
* |
653.61 D/E |
* |
18 Nos. (1630.88 D/E) |
9 |
Elephant |
588 Nos. |
950 Nos. |
1020 Nos. |
980 Nos. |
* |
615 Nos. |
* |
* |
175 Nos./0.72 D |
144 Nos. |
177 Nos. (0.1595 D) |
10 |
Wild boar |
500 Nos. |
1100 Nos. |
1300 Nos. |
1290 Nos. |
* |
27.14 D |
* |
* |
119 Nos./0.43 D |
224 Nos. |
422 Nos. (0.4951 D) |
11 |
Barking deer |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
30 Nos. |
* |
* |
30 Nos./3992.47 D/E |
8 Nos. |
58 Nos. (2.1781 D) |
12 |
Mouse deer |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
200 D/E |
* |
* |
1049.52 D/E |
4 Nos. |
8 Nos. (837.16 D/E) |
13 |
MG Squirrel |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
6.75 D |
* |
* |
141 Nos./0.26 D |
90 Nos. |
208 Nos. (0.2186 D) |
14 |
Indian porcupine |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
417.5 D/E |
* |
* |
1188.28 D/E |
1 No. |
1653.48 D/E |
15 |
Small Indian Civet |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
84.29 D/E |
* |
* |
929.44 D/E |
* |
344.24 D/E |
16 |
Common palm civet |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
218.11 D/E |
* |
* |
1135.04 D/E |
4 Nos. |
1043.44 D/E |
17 |
Sloth bear |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
284.68DS |
* |
* |
3026.78 D/E |
3 Nos. |
3 Nos. (1502.20 D/E) |
Note
- * - No estimate available
- Nos. - Total Number
- D- Density/ sq.km
- D/E - Density of indirect evidence/ sq.km.
- DS - Density of scat/ sq.km.
- DO - Direct observation per sq.km.
- 1993* - The census was held from 30/4 to 3/5.93 with public involvement and was organized and analysed by Kerala Forest
Research Institute, Peechi.
- 1996* - The census was held from 6th to 10th December 1996 with public involvement and was organized by park authorities.
- Many of the pugmarks could not be taken, since the unexpected rains due to freak cyclonic movement had partially obliterated them
- 1997 - The census was held from 28.4.97 to 3.5.97 with public involvement and was organized and analysed by Kerala
- Forest Research Institute, Peechi.
- 2000 - The census was conducted by the park authorities. The figures shown is only by direct sighting of all the animals
- 2002 - The census was carried out with public involvement and was organized and analysed by Kerala Forest Research
- Institute, Peechi.
