The tiger population in the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, has increased by 11 since the last survey, according to the latest ‘Sundarbans Tiger Survey 2024’. The results, announced today at a press conference at the Secretariat by Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, show the tiger count rising from 114 in 2018 to 125 this year. Adviser Rizwana attributed the growth to ongoing conservation efforts and stricter habitat protections. "The tiger population density in the Sundarbans is now 2.64 tigers per 100 square kilometers, a 9.65% increase since 2018 and a 17.92% rise from 2015," she said, citing data from the survey.

Police on Wednesday rescued 11 fishermen, who were kidnapped by robbers from different areas of the Sundarbans from December 13 to 18. Those rescued were identified as Hanif, 48, Sohel Mallick, 28, Asadul Sheikh, 32, Akram Sheikh, 42, Anichh Sheikh, 22, Milon Sheikh, 23, Rafiqul Islam Khan, 35, Shukkur Ali Befari, 30, Monir Befari, 36 and Baktiar Befari, 35, hailing from different areas of Bagerhat and Khulna districts. However, no criminals have been detained so far in this connection. Read more: 'Operation Sundarban' mesmerises audience at star-studded premiere The criminals kidnapped the fishermen with their trawlers and other valuables from rivers and canals in the Sundarbans while they were fishing. Later, the kidnappers demanded ransom from the families of the victims over mobile phone. KM Arifqul Hoque, superintendent of police of the district, said police teams from Mongla and Sharankhola police stations conducted drives in the forest and rescued the fishermen. He said such drives will continue to make the forest free from the robbers and other criminals. Eight of the rescued fishermen were taken to Mongla police station and 3 others to Sharankhola police station. Read more: Shooting of ‘Operation Sundarbans’ begins

Adequate security measures have been taken in the Sundarbans under Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira district as Crown Princess of Denmark Mary Elizabeth is scheduled to visit the area on April 27. The Forest Department has imposed a ban on the entrance of visitors for April 26 and April 27 in the Sundarbans to ensure foolproof security for the Crown princes. Already all steps have been taken and 700 police will remain deployed to ensure the security of the Crown princess. Assistant Forest Conservator of the Sundarbans Satkhira range, MA Hasan said “Crown Princess Mary Elizabeth will come to the Sundarbans on Wednesday and she will likely travel in the Sundarbans and exchange her views with the Forest officials concerned.” Also read: Danish Crown Princess Mary to meet PM, visit Rohingya camps To ensure security, the Forest Department has suspended issuance of allowing visitors with passes for two days, he said. Mostafizur Rahman, superintendent of Satkhira Police, said “Unprecedented security measures have been taken following the upcoming visit of Princess Mary. No media personnel were allowed to visit in the Sundarbans during her presence.” Alongside police, Rab will also deploy in the area for security reasons. The Crown Princess will visit Kultoli village to meet climate vulnerable community members. Also read: Crown Princess of Denmark Mary Elizabeth in Dhaka on a 3-day visit She will visit multipurpose cyclone shelter in the nearby community, meet its management committee and learn about its functionality during cyclone. She will talk to community members close behind the embankment about vulnerability, loss and damages caused by cyclones. The Crown Princess will avail of a boat ride to the Sundarbans and will have interaction with the forest officials during a 15 minute-walk through the World Heritage Site discussing biodiversity and salt water intrusion in the Sundarbans. She is scheduled to leave Dhaka for Istanbul on Wednesday night. Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen received Crown Princess of Denmark Mary Elizabeth who arrived here on Monday on a three-day visit.

The Forest Department on Tuesday rescued a saltwater crocodile from a pond in Rampal of Bagerhat and released it back into the wild in the Sundarbans.  Azad Kabir, an officer-in-charge of the Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Center in the eastern part of the Sundarbans, said they rescued the crocodile from a pond in Srirambha village in Rampal after being informed through Deputy Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Habibun Nahar. The crocodile got there through the rivers and canals of the Sundarbans, he said, putting its age at 15 years. Later, the 10 feet long crocodile was released in a river of the Sundarbans in the morning, he added. READ: Rescued crocodile released back into the wild in Sundarbans Earlier on March 11, another saltwater crocodile was captured by fishermen while they were netting in the Bhaga area of Rampal and released in the Sundarbans. In this regard, Azad Kabir said the number of crocodiles in the rivers and canals of the Sundarbans is much higher now. “They roam in different rivers and canals of the forest and can go elsewhere while floating.” According to the Forest Department, 206 saltwater crocodiles, born at the Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Center in the Sundarbans, have been released into the rivers and canals of the Sundarbans. At present there are 92 crocodiles of different ages in the center.

The Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest of which more than half lies in Bangladesh, once again acted as a natural barrier protecting the country from the worst effects of Cyclone Yaas, as it has done countless times before. Yet this protection comes at a cost, as the forest ecosystem must bear heavy damage each time to both its flora and fauna. At least 6 deer, alive and dead, were recovered until Thursday as they came floating along the flood waters from the forest, a day after rthe cyclone made landfall. For two days, the entire mangrove remained inundated in saline water pushed in by tidal waves that reached over 5-feet during the high tide. Read Yaas leaves behind Tk 60 crore worth of damage, losses in Khulna Experts fear for the rich biodiversity of the forest as salt water may remain for quite some time before being absorbed into the soil, turning the land saline too. “Through a long adaptive process wildlife has survived in Sundarbans but the biodiversity will be affected as their food and habitats have been destroyed,” said Dr. Md Anwarul Islam, professor of the Zoology Department at Dhaka University. “Remaining submerged in saline water can hinder reproduction as well as other diseases to the animals,” he said. Also read: Cyclone Yaas disrupts normal life in 23 chars of Bhola The southwestern mangrove forest formed on the Bay of Bengal has been working as a buffer between the coastal population and many catastrophic cyclones that ravage the region every year. Cyclones Aila, Bulbul, Sidr, Amphan and most recently Yaas all at first rampaged the Sundarbans and then weakened as they reached further into Bangladesh.

Narrating the thrilling and triumphant story of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)'s breathtaking operations to defeat the pirates of the Sundarban, acclaimed action director Dipankar Dipon's 'Operation Sundarban' is set for release on Eid-Ul-Adha 2021.

A rare species of tortoise known as 'Batagur Baska' laid 21 eggs at Tortoise Breeding Centre at Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Centre of the Sundarbans under Khulna district.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Friday warned that anybody attempting to commit any robbery in the Sundarbans will be punished as the government will do everything to keep the mangrove forest safe.   He was speaking at a programme at Sheikh Helaluddin Stadium, celebrating one year since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared the Sundarbans free of robbers.   The Sundarbans was a dangerous place for tourists and those dependent on it, but it has been made free of robbers and criminal gangs, he said.   “The Sundarbans is a safe zone now. Thousands of tourists go sightseeing while those dependent on the forest are working without fear [of robbers],” the minister said.

 Khulna, Oct 15 (UNB) - Four suspected forest robbers were killed in a reported gunfight with members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in the Sundarbans under Koyra upazila early Tuesday.   Two of the deceased were identified as gang leader Aminul and his second-in-command Rafiq.    Tipped-off that some forest robbers took position in the Sundarbans, a team of Rab launched  a drive in the deep forest in between 3am and 5am, said Lt Col Syed Mohammad Nurus Salehin Yusuf, Commander of Rab-6.

Bagerhat, Aug 28 (UNB) – A tigress, found dead in Sundarbans East Zone on August 20, was not killed by poachers, investigators have confirmed.