Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh which borders China, will be the highest site with 3,200 metres for the 2018 tiger census.
All India Tiger Estimation is held every four years.
2,000 metres was the highest point where camera traps were set to assess the tiger numbers in the 2014 census.
“The highest altitude where we will install camera traps and do proper estimation includes Dibang valley in Arunachal Pradesh at height of 3,200 metres,” Prof Qamar Qureshi, said senior scientist at Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
“Earlier we estimated at least five tigers in Dibang, however, this time we are set to do the estimation scientifically for higher accuracy,” he added.
According to Sanjay Kumar, DIG, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary has been proposed to be converted into a tiger reserve, raising need of a proper census.
“In the northeast, except places in Assam, scat or DNA sampling was done to estimate the number of tigers. Camera traps were difficult due to high vegetation, however, this time it has been prioritised,”.
The government this year has set the northeastern region on priority, where earlier camera traps were not set except for some areas in Assam.