Foresters at the tiger census in Neora Valley. (Biplab Basak)

Siliguri, Dec. 2: Foresters associated with the tiger census at Neora Valley National Park have completed field work and are now busy compiling data.

“After conducting the count in the park from November 20 to 25, we are now assimilating the data and samples collected by all the 31 groups that had worked during the census,” Tapas Das, the divisional forest officer (wildlife II), said yesterday. “These figures will be compiled, analysed and sent to the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in Dehra Dun which will examine them further before declaring the final figures of tiger population at the park.”

The previous two censuses conducted at Neora Valley in 2001 and 2004 put the number of tigers at 16 and 11 respectively. This year, the foresters used different methods, like pug impression pads, camera traps, collection of faeces, photo of scratches of claws on barks and stems and sighting of the animals to estimate the numbers of the big cats.

“We cannot say when the results will be out. We are concentrating on the compilation, which is a tough task and needs to be error free. The faeces collected will be sent for DNA tests to the WII,” Das added.

At Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, the tiger count will start either from December 17 or 18. “The 2004 census report shows 16 tigers at the sanctuary,” Sumita Ghatak, the divisional forest officer (wildlife I), said. “We expect the work to be completed by December 21-22.” The WII had conducted an estimation survey of tigers at Mahananda on 2005, but the reports wee yet to be declared, the foresters said.

“Before the census, training for our staff members and NGO representatives will be conducted,” Ghatak said.