Students Join Hands with Forest Officials for Debrigarh’s All India Tiger Estimation 2025–26

Bargarh: For the first time, the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary is set to involve college and school students in the upcoming All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2025–26, marking a milestone in participatory wildlife conservation. The initiative aims to inspire the younger generation to actively engage in protecting biodiversity under the theme “Conserve today for a wilder tomorrow.”

Authorities have partnered with Dunguri College, Kamgaon College, and Lakhanpur High School, where 46 students will join forest staff in the month-long census beginning in November 2025. Training sessions began on October 28 and will continue until the first week of November, familiarizing students with field protocols such as sampling techniques, data collection, identification of animal signs, pugmarks, vocalizations, and scent marks.

Debrigarh officials emphasized that youth involvement will not only add enthusiasm and creativity to the fieldwork but also build awareness among communities living near the sanctuary. The students will serve as “ambassadors of Debrigarh,” helping spread conservation values beyond classrooms. The authorities also plan to collaborate with over 50 educational institutions in the long term to sustain the initiative.

For the upcoming estimation, 26 census units have been formed, with 80 frontline forest officials participating alongside the students. A total of 107 camera traps have been installed, covering 120 grids of 2 km x 2 km each, to capture animal movements. The survey will combine sign tracking and camera trapping methods to assess tiger and leopard populations, prey density, habitat quality, and human interference within the sanctuary.

Debrigarh’s previous estimation exercises have shown promising trends. During the 2023 pre-monsoon survey, the sanctuary recorded an estimated 82 leopards, while prey densities included 30 sambar, 45 gaur, and 65 wild boars per sq. km. The overall prey density rose to 46 animals per sq. km, compared to 38 per sq. km in the 2017 census. Similarly, a summer census conducted in May 2025 found 788 gaurs, including 315 juveniles, indicating a healthy and growing population.

By encouraging youth participation, Debrigarh is setting an example of inclusive and community-based conservation, blending science, education, and awareness to secure a sustainable future for wildlife in western Odisha.