Issues

Roughing it out

Among the issues faced by the field researchers is the huge area which needs to be covered in order to conduct a reliable assessment of tigers in a particular forest area. Field assessments require a lot of resources in terms of manpower, equipment and most importantly financial support. This project would not be possible without sufficient funding. Also, if insufficient data has been collected, then any proposed recommendations derived from the study may not be justified due to insufficient or inaccurate information.

On the technical side, one of the challenges faced is the daunting task of reaching all the camera-trap locations on a monthly basis. Limited road access forces the field researchers to cut through old logging roads, delaying the journey. From there they have to trek long distances to reach the sites. Seasonal flooding during the monsoon period significantly reduces the chances of accessing the cameras.

In addition to that, after prolonged exposure to sun and rain, the cameras will sometimes malfunction, as sensors in older camera-trap units have been shown to be less responsive. Valuable information is lost as a result.