The Tamil Nadu Forest Department is set to launch a comprehensive wildlife census across Dharmapuri district's forests, deploying 1,274 camera traps in a first-of-its-kind survey to determine whether tigers inhabit the region and map the distribution of other wild animals. The exercise, undertaken in collaboration with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), will cover the district's entire forest estate of approximately 1.72 lakh hectares — more than a third of Dharmapuri's total geographical area.

Scale and Scope of the Survey

Camera traps will be installed following a two-kilometre grid pattern, enabling systematic recording of animal movements across different forest stretches. Officials describe the planned exercise as the first comprehensive camera-trap survey of its kind in Dharmapuri, noting that despite the district's extensive forest cover and the presence of several significant species, detailed population data has remained limited until now.

According to forest personnel, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri are the only two districts where the NTCA will conduct a census covering the entire forest area — not just designated reserves or sanctuaries. Staff members are currently undergoing training ahead of camera deployment across identified locations.

The Tiger Question

A central objective of the survey is to establish whether tigers are present in Dharmapuri's forests. Officials confirmed that no tiger sightings have been recorded in the district so far. However, Dharmapuri's forests share connectivity with both the Cauvery North Wildlife Sanctuary and the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, where tiger movements have been reported — making a detailed investigation warranted, according to forest officials.

The findings will help determine whether tigers are using forest corridors within the district, a question with significant implications for conservation planning and human-wildlife conflict management in the region.

Key Wildlife and Forest Habitats

The Hogenakkal, Pennagaram and Palacode forest ranges form part of the Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary. These forests already support populations of elephants, leopards, dholes and bears, among other species. Officials noted that the survey's records would serve as a foundation for understanding Dharmapuri's wildlife richness beyond potential tiger presence, identifying habitats used by multiple species and guiding future conservation measures.

Conservation and Conflict Management

Beyond species enumeration, the census is expected to deliver practical benefits for on-ground forest management. Officials said the data would support habitat protection, improve understanding of how animals use the landscape, and equip forest personnel with actionable intelligence to address human-wildlife conflict — a persistent challenge across Tamil Nadu's forest-fringe communities.

This comes amid growing national emphasis on expanding tiger monitoring beyond formal reserves, with the NTCA increasingly extending survey mandates to corridor forests that link protected areas. The Dharmapuri census, once completed, could inform decisions on whether the district warrants enhanced conservation status or buffer zone designations.