Archive · 29 Dec 2025
Gorumara Foresters Prepare for Tiger Census
Forest officials in Gorumara are getting ready for a big tiger count in 2026.
They want to prove that tigers live in Neora Valley, a place in Kalimpong.
Even though there have been pictures of tigers since 2017, the official group that counts tigers hasn't said for sure that they are there.
The forest is very important because it connects different places where animals can move freely.
The officials are going to use special cameras and look for signs like tiger poop and claw marks to find out if tigers are really there.
They had special training to help them with this tough job.
Gorumara wildlife division is preparing for the tiger census in January 2026 to confirm tiger presence in Neora Valley National Park.
Evidence of tigers, including scat samples, claw marks, and camera trap images, has been recorded since 2017.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has not officially recognized tiger presence despite multiple photographs.
Forest officials will use advanced night-vision cameras and conduct transact-based monitoring in high-altitude zones.
Neora Valley is considered a vital natural corridor connecting Sikkim’s Pangolakha Sanctuary and Bhutan’s Toorsa Strict Natural Reserve.
- Who
- Gorumara wildlife division, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Wildlife Institute of India (WII)
- What
- Preparations for tiger census to confirm tiger presence in Neora Valley National Park
- When
- January 2026
- Where
- Neora Valley National Park, Kalimpong district
- Why
- To establish evidence of royal Bengal tigers for the upcoming tiger census
- Location
- Neora Valley National Park, Kalimpong district
- Timeframe
- January 2026
- Evidence
- Scat samples, claw marks, camera trap images
- Altitude
- 4,000 to 9,000 feet
- Key Locations
- Lava, Mouchuki, Hati Danda, Jaributi Danda, Dolay Camp, Gogune, Alubari, Chauda Feri, India–Bhutan–Sikkim tri-junction
- Training
- Specialised tiger census training in Assam
- Methodology
- Transact-based monitoring, camera-trap analysis
