The Indian government released a new count of Bengal tigers this year stating that there are currently 1,706 wild tigers in India. According to the World Wildlife Fund, there are approximately 3,200 tigers of all six sub species in the wild. These numbers are shockingly low, but how are these numbers obtained? Currently, three basic methods are used in tiger counting.
The oldest method of counting is by identifying tiger pawprints known as pugmarks. Trackers count the number of unique prints to estimate tiger numbers in a specific area.Additional information can be found at http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/08/horros-at-china-tiger-farm-us-diplomat-chinese-medicine.php?campaign=th_rss. This method is not considered to be very accurate.
Camera traps are much more accurate in determining tiger numbers. In this method, two cameras are placed on opposite sides of a path tigers are believed to frequent. When a tiger passes the cameras, its picture is taken from both sides. Since each tiger’s stripe pattern is unique, tiger researchers can accurately track individual tigers making sure that no tiger is counted more than once.
Another counting method used is DNA sampling. In this method, researchers collect tiger scat from the field and analyze and identify a tiger’s unique DNA pattern. By utilizing this method, researchers can track an individual tiger from one count to the next.