The Forest Department has installed nylon fence in 40-km areas at critical locations in the Sundarbans to halt the entry of tigers, deer and other wild animals to locality and increase the tiger population in the world’s largest mangrove forest.
Sources at the Forest Department said they have already set up nylon fence in 40 kilometers area and works are ongoing to bring another 20 km under the fence.
They said the Ministry of Environment and Forest, and Climate Change approved a project ‘Tigers’ preservation of the Sundarbans’ involving over Tk 35.93 crore on March 23, 2022 with deadline in March, 2025.
Erection of the fence started in October last year and its work has been going on since then.
Dr Abu Naser Mohsin Hossain, project director and also divisional forest officer of the Sundarbans West Forest Department, said they have already set up the Nylon fence covering Bagerhat’s Dhansagar, Sarankhola, Satkhira’s Koikhali, Khulna’s Koilashganj and other areas.
Members from the Village Tigers’ Response Team have been involved in the project to monitor work so that miscreants can’t damage the fence, he said.
The forest official said tigers and deer are taking shelter in mud forts when the water level is high during storms and new full moon tide.
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Camera trapping is being considered to monitor which animals climb up and how long they stay, he said.
Besides, proposals have been sent to build 8 more mud forts inside the forest, the forest official added.