Pilibhit Tiger Reserve sees tiger population to rise to 80 amid human-wildlife conflict in rural belt: Report

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The tiger count in Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) has increased to around 80, from 71 in the last three years, based on a recent internal study undertaken by PTR officials and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) together, The Times of India reported. While the upbeat growth in tiger population has been accompanied by mounting concern about rising human-wildlife conflict in neighbouring rural villages.

PTR Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Manish Singh released the results on Saturday, adding that the revised estimate is not including 30 to 35 percent of tigers thought to be living in the croplands bordering the reserve. "This spillover is mainly because there is congestion in the core part of the reserve," Singh has been quoted as saying.

The in-camera estimation process started in November 2024 and ended in March 2025. The 620-square-kilometre core of the reserve was divided into grids measuring 2x2 km, and there were 316 grids. Two camera traps were placed in each grid facing each other to capture the movement of tigers. The process was carried out in two phases because of equipment limitations.

"In the initial phase, we surveyed the Mala, Mahof, and Deuria ranges between November and January," informed Singh, as per the report. "The second phase was of the Baharhi and Haripur ranges between mid-February and end of March."

WWF biologists, headed by Ashish Bista and Rohit Ravi, subsequently examined the tiger photographs for four months to establish individual identities to prevent double-counting.

The Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) is yet to study similar data, PTR's own figures are likely to be officially presented to the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) soon.

However, increased tiger counts is marred by a spike in human fatalities. In the period between May 14 and July 17, seven villagers were killed in tiger attacks along the periphery of the reserve. Officials say they are likely to witness more such cases.

The last official tally by the National Tiger Conservation Authority's (NTCA) 2022 census had estimated PTR's tiger population at slightly more than 71, not including cubs aged less than one year.