The forest department is set to launch an extensive camera trap study covering regions in the Konkan belt from Mumbai to Goa, a move that will strengthen wildlife monitoring across the Western Ghats.

The initiative, part of the All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2026 exercise, aims to build a comprehensive database of big cats and other wildlife species.
Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) Wildlife West Dr Jitendra Ramgaonkar said, “To develop a comprehensive database of big cats and other wildlife across the western ghats landscape—from Mumbai through the Konkan to Goa — the forest department plans to conduct an extensive camera trap study, similar to the ongoing efforts in Eastern Maharashtra and the Vidarbha regions."