The Tiger Cell at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, is a specialized unit established in collaboration with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India. It plays a critical role in the scientific monitoring, research, and conservation planning for tigers (Panthera tigris) and their habitats across India.
Establishment and Mandate
The Tiger Cell was established to serve as a technical support unit for the NTCA with the objective of strengthening tiger conservation through data-driven strategies, advanced monitoring tools, and scientific assessments. Its creation aligns with India’s commitment to global tiger conservation under initiatives like the Global Tiger Forum and the St. Petersburg Declaration on Tiger Conservation.
Core Functions
All India Tiger Estimation (AITE):
The Tiger Cell plays a central role in designing and implementing India's quadrennial national tiger population estimation, one of the largest wildlife surveys in the world. This involves the use of camera traps, line transects, habitat assessments, and occupancy modeling.
Data Management and Analysis:
The Cell manages large-scale databases related to tiger presence, distribution, prey availability, and habitat conditions. It employs spatial analysis, remote sensing, and statistical modeling to assess trends and generate scientifically valid population estimates.
Research and Monitoring:
The Tiger Cell conducts ecological research on tiger behavior, movement patterns, prey dynamics, and habitat connectivity. It also supports long-term telemetry studies and assists tiger reserves in designing monitoring protocols.
Capacity Building:
The Cell provides technical training to forest staff, researchers, and field biologists in wildlife monitoring, use of technology like camera traps and GPS, and analytical tools for conservation planning.
Policy Support and Reporting:
The Tiger Cell supports the NTCA in drafting national-level reports and documents such as the Status of Tigers in India Report and contributes to national and international conservation policy through its scientific inputs.
Technology Integration:
It actively incorporates modern tools including drones, AI-based species identification, mobile-based data collection apps, and GIS platforms to enhance the effectiveness of tiger conservation initiatives.
Corridor and Landscape Planning:
The Cell conducts connectivity and corridor analyses using landscape ecology principles to facilitate the movement of tigers between protected areas and ensure genetic flow across tiger populations.
