Tamil Nadu will commence the first phase of the All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2026 on January 5, continuing in cycles until the end of February. This nationwide wildlife monitoring exercise, conducted every four years by the National Tiger Conservation Authority and Wildlife Institute of India, assesses tiger populations, co-predators, and prey bases. The effort involves sign surveys, camera trapping, and genetic sampling across tiger reserves and other habitats. Tamil Nadu's tiger population has shown an increase from 264 in 2018 to 306 in 2022.