Tiger census to start in January amid growing man-animal conflict
Bengaluru: In response to increasing incidents of man-animal conflict, particularly tiger capture and relocation operations in key tiger reserves, the Karnataka Forest Department is reportedly preparing for the upcoming all-India tiger census. The exercise is set to begin in January 2026, with staffers already undergoing training.
“The tiger estimation exercise will be done in the first week of January. The dates are yet to be finalised. The exercise will first be done in Project Tiger areas and then in other forest patches. Training for Bengaluru Circle has been completed,” The New Indian Express quoted PC Rai, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), as saying.
The census will unfold in three phases: Phase-1 will gather data on carnivore and prey base density, Phase-2 will involve field reports, and Phase-3 will focus on camera trap data. The final all-India tiger estimation report is expected to be released in April 2026.
Initially, Karnataka was set to begin its annual tiger estimation exercise by the end of November and complete it by mid-December. However, due to delays in staff training, the exercise was postponed. “All tiger states have been directed to follow one calendar for the estimation, to avoid confusion and duplication in the Monitoring Systems for Tigers -- Intensive Protection and Ecological Status (M-Str-IPES) portal and mobile app,” TNIE quoted an official from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change as saying.
The all-India tiger estimation report, prepared by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute of India, indicated an overall increase in tiger numbers in Karnataka. From 300 tigers in 2010, the state’s population grew to 406 in 2014, 524 in 2018, and 563 in 2022. With 785 tigers, Karnataka ranks second in the country, following Madhya Pradesh, in terms of tiger population.
The all-India estimation, cited by the newspaper, further showed that the Central and Eastern Ghats landscape housed 1,439 tigers, while the Western Ghats landscape housed 1,087 big cats.
Despite the rise in tiger numbers, officials have raised concerns about the increasing man-animal conflicts, particularly in areas with high tiger densities.
A senior official, quoted by TNIE, highlighted that forest cover in the state is shrinking, putting additional pressure on the land and wildlife. “Bandipur and Nagarahole tiger reserves house tigers beyond their carrying capacity, thus conflict is increasing. We have now adopted relocation to newer, safer habitats policy,” the official added.
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Bill to regulate deepfakes tabled in Lok Sabha
New Delhi (PTI): A Private Member's Bill seeking a clear legal framework for regulation of deepfakes has been introduced in the Lok Sabha.
The Regulation of Deepfake Bill, introduced by Shiv Sena leader Shrikant Shinde in the House on Friday, aims to protect citizens by mandating prior consent from individuals depicted in deepfake content.
"Misuse of deepfakes for harassment, deception and misinformation has escalated, creating an urgent need for regulatory safeguards," Shinde said.
The Bill also lists penalties for offenders creating or disseminating deepfake content with malicious intent.
"With advancements in artificial intelligence and deep learning, deepfake technology has emerged as a significant tool for media manipulation. While the technology has potential applications in education, entertainment and creative fields, it also poses severe risks when misused, threatening individual privacy, national security and public trust," Shinde said in the statement of objects and reasons in the Bill.
The proposed Bill seeks to establish a clear legal framework to govern the creation, distribution and application of deepfakes in India, said Shinde, a three-term Lok Sabha member from Kalyan.
The Bill also seeks to establish the Deepfake Task Force, a dedicated body to combat national security implications and evaluate the influence of deepfakes on privacy, civic participation, and potential election interference.
The task force will collaborate with academic and private sector institutions to develop technologies that detect manipulated content, thereby promoting credibility in digital media.
The Bill also proposes to establish a fund to support public and private sector initiatives in the detection and deterrence of advanced image manipulation.
A Private Member's Bill is a procedure of Parliament that enables lawmakers, who are not ministers, to draw attention to issues that might not be represented in Government Bills or to highlight the issues and gaps in the existing legal framework that require legislative intervention.
