(IN): Counting tigers by looking at their dung

June 22, 2009

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Counting tigers by looking at their dungExpress News ServiceBANGALORE: The

science of counting tigers has become a little olfactious. According to a

new study conducted by the scientists at National Centre for Biological

Sciences, Hebbal and Centre for Wildlife Studies(CWS), the fulproof method

of counting tigers is by looking at it’s dung.

The study says that it will be possible to accurately count tigers’

population by identifying individual animal from the unique DNA signature

found in their dung. In the past, DNA was collected from blood or tissue

samples of tigers that were darted and sedated. The authors say that this

new non-invasive technique is a powerful tool for measuring the success of

conservation efforts.

“This study is a breakthrough in the science of counting tigers, which is a

key yardstick for measuring conservation success,” said noted tiger

scientist Ullas Karanth of the Wildlife Conservation Society and Director,

CWS. He said that “the technique will allow to establish baseline numbers on

tiger population in places where they have never been able to accurately

count before.” The study took place in India’s Bandipur Reserve in

Karnataka, where researchers collected 58 tiger scats following rigorous

protocols and then identified individual animals through their DNA. Tiger

population was then estimated using sophisticated computer models. These

results were validated against camera trap data, where individual tigers are

photographed automatically and identified by their unique stripe pattern.

Camera trapping is considered standard but proves impractical in several

areas of low tiger density or rugged field conditions, scientists said.

“We see genetic sampling as a valuable additional tool for estimating tiger

abundance in places like the Russian Far East, Sunderbans, where camera

trapping might be impractical due to various environmental and logistical

constraints,” said Karanth.

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