Survey of tiger reserve from April 10

HYDERABAD: The state forest department plans to survey Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) from April 10 using cameras to estimate the number of tigers, India's national animal, inhabiting the place.Officials of the wildlife wing of the department believe that there is an increase in the population of tigers in NSTR up to 80.“There are about 40 pairs of high-resolution tracing cameras already installed in the tiger reserve and the forest department is fixing 100 pairs of cameras more,'' said AK Naik, chief conservator of forests (Project Tiger).He said the survey was being undertaken at instance of the Union ministry of environment and forests.“First, we will make a survey to estimate tigers in the-Srisailam Tiger Reserve and then in other places like the Kawal Tiger Sanctuary in Adilabad,” he said.As per census conducted in the state by the Union government in 2006-07 and 2010-11, the tiger population was 55 and 72 respectively.Now forest officials guess that there would be 80 plus tigers in NSTR but the figure could be confirmed after survey.He said tigers, leopards and clouded leopards can be found in and around NSTR. The National Tiger Conservation Authority Wildlife Institute of India and Compensatory Afforestation, Management and Planning Authority will arrange funds for project, he said.