13/12/2025
Sikkim Hosts First-Ever Training-cum-Workshop on All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) with NTCA–WII
12/12/25 Gangtok, Sikkim:
In a landmark moment for the State of Sikkim, the Forest and Environment Department today inaugurated the first-ever Training-cum-Workshop on the All India Tiger Estimation (AITE), conducted with the technical support of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
This workshop was organized as part of the 6th cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation, a national exercise undertaken every four years. Notably, this is the first time Sikkim is participating in the AITE, marking a significant milestone in the State’s conservation journey and strengthening its commitment to scientific wildlife monitoring and long-term protection efforts.
The programme was chaired by Dr. D. Manjunatha, IFS, CCF-cum- Chief Wildlife Warden in presence of Shri Karma D. Legshey, IFS, CCF(T), Shri Udai Gurung, IFS,CF(WL), Ms. Sonam Choden Bhutia, IFS, CF(T), Shri Suraj Thatal,IFS Director,KNP/KBR, Ms. Sonam Norden Bhutia, SFS, DFO(Wildlife) East and Ms. Nisha S***a, SFS, DFO(Wildlife) West.
Speaking at the inaugural session, the Chief Wildlife Warden extended a warm welcome to all participants and acknowledged the unwavering dedication of Sikkim’s frontline forest staff and the field managers for the camera-trap photographs of tigers from Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary and Kyongnosla —recognized as some of the highest-altitude tiger records in the country which have garnered national attention. These findings reaffirm the ecological richness of Sikkim’s Eastern Himalayan landscape and highlight its role in supporting diverse and rare wildlife.
He further added that as Sikkim prepares to participate for the first time in the national-level tiger estimation exercise, covering both Protected Areas (PAs) and forests outside the PA network. With the guidance of NTCA and WII, the state’s field preparations will follow standardised and scientifically robust protocols, ensuring high-quality data collection with digital monitoring tools such as M-STrIPES.
The frontline staff from the level of Forest Guard along with Graduate Foresters and Environment Assistants from the Territorial and Wildlife Divisions of Gangtok, Mangan and Pakyong had participated in the training program and similar capacity-building workshops for Wildlife and Territorial divisions of South and West Sikkim is being conducted on 13th December at Soreng.
The department urges all participants to fully engage with the training sessions, share field insights, and enhance their technical capabilities so that Sikkim sets a benchmark in the All India Tiger Estimation 2026. With renewed dedication and scientific rigour, Sikkim looks forward to strengthening its contributions to national tiger conservation efforts and further enhancing its role on India’s Tiger conservation map.
