2.4. a) Field and Analytical method: Variation in tiger density across study sites
Capture-recapture based camera trapping was done to estimate densities of carnivores following standard protocols (Karanth & Nichols., 1998). A grid size of 2 km² was used for camera trap placement. Based on the sign survey, camera traps were stationed on both sides of the trails, at junctions and water sources to maximize photo captures (Karanth & Nichols., 1998). Distance between the camera stations was between 1 km to 1.5 km to ensure spatial coverage in the sampling area and capture probability of the study population (Pollock, Nichols, Brownie, & Hines, 1990). A closing period of 30 days (n= 9144 in TATR and n= 13440 in NNTR Trap nights) was kept to ensure demographic closure.