metro india news  I hyderabad

The Telangana Forest Department invites citizens, students, NGOs, and wildlife enthusiasts to participate in the All-India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2026, the world’s largest wildlife monitoring program led by the Wildlife Institute of India and NTCA. Building on the success of 2022, when India’s tiger count reached a historic 3,967, AITE 2026 aims to expand habitat surveys across over 8.27 lakh sq. km nationwide, including more than 3,000 forest beats in Telangana, covering about 26,000 sq. km.

This large-scale effort depends on transparent, credible data collection, with citizen scientists playing a crucial role. In 2022, volunteers helped improve data reliability, and their participation will be even more vital this year through hands-on training with mobile apps like M-STrIPES. Their involvement encourages community ownership, deepening conservation ethics and connecting locals to protect Telangana’s biodiversity and ecological corridors, home to iconic wildlife such as Tigers, Leopards, and rare birds.

Participants will assist forest teams by conducting transect and trail walks, recording sightings, signs, and habitat data, and assessing threats like human and cattle pressures. Volunteers will walk 10-15 km daily in rugged terrain, adhering to safety protocols. The activity is a pro-bono, seven-day program from January 17 to 23, 2026, with basic accommodations and local food arranged by the Department. Participants must be aged 18-60, physically fit to walk long distances, and capable of living in remote settings.

This initiative provides an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to India’s wildlife conservation efforts, supporting habitat restoration, anti-poaching, and community outreach projects. Interested individuals can register from November 3 to November 22, 2025, via the official website.

Sign up at https://tinyurl. com/aite2026tg. Questions? Call 18004255364, 04023231440, WhatsApp- 9803338666 or email aite2026tg@gmail.com".