MSTrIPES
M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers – Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) is a technology-based system used to strengthen wildlife patrolling, protection and ecological monitoring in tiger reserves. It uses GPS, mobile applications, GIS and field observations to record patrol routes, wildlife sightings, signs of human activity and other important observations made by frontline forest staff.
The system helps forest managers understand where patrolling is being carried out, what is being observed in the field, and where greater protection or management attention may be required. The information collected during patrols can be mapped and analysed to support science-based and adaptive wildlife management.
M-STrIPES Patrolling in Sahyadri Tiger Reserve
M-STrIPES was introduced in Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR) in January 2017. Since January 2020, STR has been independently implementing the M-STrIPES patrolling module across its management areas. Each beat guard is assigned a weekly foot-patrolling target of 35 km, equivalent to approximately 140 km per month. During patrols, staff record their GPS track and important wildlife, ecological and protection-related observations.
Initially, GPS devices and M-STrIPES data-entry forms were used for field recording. The system has now been strengthened through the use of the Kobo mobile application, enabling beat guards to record M-STrIPES observations directly through their mobile phones.
At present, beat guards across the ranges of Sahyadri Tiger Reserve are actively undertaking M-STrIPES-based patrolling and data collection in their respective areas.
How M-STrIPES Supports STR
- Tracks patrol coverage and help monitor patrolling effort.
- Records wildlife and ecological observations from the field.
- Documents human activities and potential threats to wildlife and habitats.
- Identifies areas requiring increased protection or management attention.
- Supports data-driven decision-making by forest managers.
- Creates a long-term record of protection and ecological conditions across the reserve.
Through M-STrIPES, Sahyadri Tiger Reserve is strengthening technology-enabled patrolling, frontline protection and science-based wildlife management.