India, Dec. 24 -- The Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR) - that has been witnessing gradual signs of tiger population revival - is preparing for the national tiger estimation scheduled to begin in January 2026. Forest officials said that the exercise assumes particular significance for the reserve as it will be conducted on a full scale, reflecting both the recent increase in tiger presence and an improving prey base in the landscape.

This is part of the four-yearly all-India tiger estimation initiated by the central government to assess the status of tigers, co-predators and prey species across protected areas as well as forest divisions outside reserves. While tiger reserves undertake certain monitoring exercises annually, the comprehensive ...