Tadoba Tiger Reserve's Machan Census Reveals 42 Tiger Sightings Amid Thriving Wildlife The Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) conducted its annual ‘machan census’ on May 1, coinciding with Buddha Purnima, to assess wildlife activity during peak summer heat. The census, which tracked 5,765 animals, recorded 42 tiger sightings and 13 leopard sightings across the reserve’s core and buffer zones. The exercise highlighted a strong prey-predator dynamic, with herbivores comprising over 53% of the total sightings. Spotted deer (1,745), grey langur (1,020), and sambar (623) were the most frequently observed species, underscoring the reserve’s role as a critical habitat for apex predators. The census revealed a notable trend in public engagement, with citizens actively participating in buffer zone monitoring. While forest staff managed 99 machans (observation platforms) in the core area, 54 of the 69 available machans in the buffer zone were booked by local residents through an online system. This collaboration yielded higher tiger sightings in buffer areas (23) compared to the core (19), suggesting that wildlife populations are thriving beyond protected boundaries. The data also emphasized the ecological health of the reserve, with additional species documented, including Indian gaur (547), wild boar (480), and over 500 Indian peafowl. Rare sightings of sloth bears (80) and honey badgers (8) further reinforced the reserve’s biodiversity. Field Director Prabhu Nath Shukla emphasized the importance of the census for long-term conservation planning, stating that the data provides insights into habitat dynamics and helps safeguard biological corridors critical for tiger survival.#tadoba_andhari_tiger_reserve #prabhu_nath_shukla #buddha_purnima #machan_census #tadoba_tiger_reserve
