Polish and Slovak teams track Tatra chamois populations biannually, using GPS for precise counts and data verification.
Early Tuesday morning, the biannual chamois count began in the Tatras, coordinated by Polish and Slovak conservation teams. This autumnal survey, conducted every spring and fall, helps monitor the population of these rare, mountain-dwelling animals. Last spring’s count tallied 793 chamois across the Tatras, with 204 observed on the Polish side. This autumn’s results will be shared soon.
The chamois survey involves nearly 270 trained personnel equipped with GPS-enabled mobile devices to record sightings precisely. Teams verify data on both sides to prevent duplicate counts of chamois near the border. The collaboration between the Tatra National Park and its Slovak counterpart, established in 1957, is one of the longest-running cross-border wildlife monitoring projects in the world.
Spring counts track chamois births and survival rates after winter, while autumn counts reflect the total population. This data is essential for preserving the chamois, an endemic species to the Tatras and strictly protected.