Keonjhar, Nov 24: The tiger population survey is currently underway across 105 beats of the Keonjhar Forest Division. The census, being conducted in multiple phases, will continue until January.

As part of the first phase, officials are carrying out carnivore sign surveys, ungulate surveys, and vegetation assessments. This will be followed by an extensive camera-trap survey scheduled for December and January.

Preliminary findings from the ongoing surveys in the Attei Reserve Forest and Telkoi Forest have revealed numerous signs of cat-family species, including leopards. Forest officials report that the number of big cats in the region has shown a steady increase over the past two to three years. Notably, the presence of a large tiger has also been recorded multiple times within the Attei Reserve Forest.