United News of Bangladesh

The number of Royal Bengal Tigers in the  Sundarbans  in Bangladesh has increased steadily over the past decade despite continuing conservation challenges, reinforcing hopes for the species’ long-term survival. Despite the continued threats of poaching, climate change, habitat degradation and illegal activities inside the forest, the number of tigers in the  forest has shown a gradual increase over the past decade, according to the Forest Department. World Tiger Day is being observed on Wednesday (July 29) under the theme, “Be Aware, Conserve Tigers.” In recent years, Bangladesh has moved national observances beyond Dhaka, involving communities living around the Sundarbans to strengthen public participation in tiger conservation. Slow but steady recovery Bangladesh began estimating tiger numbers through camera-trap surveys in 2015, replacing older pugmark-based methods. The first survey estimated 106 tigers in the Bangladesh Sundarbans. A second survey in 2018 recorded 114 tigers, while the latest survey completed in October 2024 estimated the population at 125. The consistent increase of roughly 10 tigers in each survey has been viewed by conservationists as evidence that protection measures are producing results, although they caution that the population remains vulnerable. Forest officials and people who regularly work inside the Sundarbans said tiger sightings have become more frequent than in previous years. Last Friday afternoon, a tiger was spotted roaming near the Andharmanik Ecotourism Centre.  Analysis of images captured by 20 recently-installed camera traps in the same area over one week also identified three  tigers. Officials say incidents of tigers straying into nearby villages have declined significantly, reducing human-tiger conflict. Forest workers and tourists are increasingly reporting sightings of tiger pairs, and occasionally groups of three. Earlier this year, on January 4, Forest Department personnel rescued a female tiger from a poacher’s snare inside the Sundarbans. Estimated to be around 10 years old, the tigress remained trapped for several days and was in critical condition. After months of treatment and rehabilitation, she was released back into the forest on July 12. Conservation gains overshadowed by losses While tiger numbers are rising, mortality remains a major concern. Forest Department data show that between 2001 and 2025, 61 tigers died in the Sundarbans. Of them, 26 were killed by criminals, 14 died after entering human settlements and being attacked by local people, 19 died of natural causes, while two died during Cyclone Sidr and other incidents. Authorities also recovered tiger skins and skeletal remains during the same period, indicating continued illegal wildlife trafficking. The eastern division of the Sundarbans recorded 30 tiger deaths, while the western division accounted for 31. During the same period, tiger attacks claimed the lives of 13 people in the eastern Sundarbans. A global bright spot The Sundarbans’ improving tiger population stands out against the global decline of the species. A new report from wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC has warned that criminal networks involved in wildlife trafficking are adapting more quickly than conservation efforts can keep pace. It said the global wild tiger population, which stood at about 100,000 a century ago, has declined dramatically to an estimated 3,700-5,500 animals. Three tiger subspecies—the Bali, Javan and Caspian tigers—have already become extinct. Wild tigers now survive in only 10 countries, including Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, China and Russia. Deforestation, poaching and illegal wildlife trade continue to threaten tiger populations worldwide. Protection efforts intensify Md Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, divisional forest officer (DFO) of the Sundarbans East Forest Division, said anti-poaching operations have been strengthened considerably in recent years. Forest guards now conduct regular foot patrols, while drones are also being used during enforcement operations. Over the past year, authorities recovered a large number of traps set for hunting tigers and deer, arrested 70 deer poachers and submitted a list of 150 suspected poachers to law enforcement agencies. “The activities of poachers have declined because of continuous enforcement drives,” he said. “As a result, tiger movement inside the forest has increased.” He added that no tiger has been killed in nearby villages in recent years. Boundary fencing has also helped reduce cross-border movement, allowing tigers approaching the frontier to return safely to the forest, while the increasing deer population has improved prey availability. Parallel search operations have also made it more difficult for poachers to lay traps. “Tigers are now being seen on forest trails, beside ponds and canals, and sometimes even near Forest Department offices,” he said. “Tourists are also getting opportunities to see tigers during visits to the Sundarbans.” He expressed optimism that the next tiger census would record another increase. AZM Hasanur Rahman, DFO of the Sundarbans West Forest Division, said the department remains vigilant in protecting both tigers and other forest resources and expects the results of ongoing conservation initiatives to be reflected in future surveys.

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.

Among Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s myriad options to help revive his economy from a rare contraction brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, “Project Tiger” is definitely among the most unlikely.  According to Bloomberg, the country intends to grow the wild tiger population by 35% to as many as 4,000 in the next decade, which would protect forests while also boosting economic gains from conservation, according to a top official overseeing the nation’s tiger program. “Tiger reserves are bringing benefits for society, environment and the economy,” S.P. Yadav, additional director general of Project Tiger, a government-run program for conservation of the species, said in an interview at his New Delhi office. “Economic benefits will increase going forward.” Read:Tiger population growing in the Sundarbans: PM Modi, who in 2019 joined British adventurer Bear Grylls on a television show to create awareness about environmental conservation and climate change, has doubled funding for the tiger conservation, which started in 1973. In addition to the economic boost, it’s a tiny part of a broader commitment to care for the country’s environment.  Every tiger successfully protected helps conserve around 25,000 acres (10,117 hectares) of forest, according to estimates from the World Wildlife Fund. For India, which is now home to about 2,967 wild tigers, that means expanding its forest cover by more than 10 million hectares to over 81 million hectares, and adding more tiger reserves to its current total of 51. As well, one rupee invested in tiger reserves provides 243- to 7,488-times worth of benefits to the country in a year, said Madhu Verma, New Delhi-based chief economist at the World Resources Institute. A study authored by her in 2019 showed monetary value of direct and indirect benefits from 10 tiger reserves ranged from 51 billion rupees ($687 million) to 162 billion rupees in a year. As the endangered big cats are at the top of the food chain, their conservation is possible only when their entire ecosystem is protected. As well, benefits flow to the population around the reserves as tourism increases and local communities get jobs. Read:Poacher 'Tiger Habib' held after 20 yrs on the run “If conservation efforts increase economic benefits would go up,” said Verma. “Investment in reserves will have a whopping impact.” India now spends about 2.5 billion rupees on tiger conservation efforts every year. Although it’s a fraction of the 35 trillion rupee federal budget, the amount is substantial considering the nation only spent about 11 billion rupees on tigers in total during the four decades prior to 2012.   That spending has so far helped double the country’s wild tiger population from 1,411 in 2006. India has been using smart technology, including artificial intelligence and drones for patrolling and recording the status of tigers. These tools have helped it reduce poaching, but challenges remain. Read: Two ‘poachers’ killed in tiger attack in Sundarbans More than 300 tiger deaths have been reported in last three years, and about a third of these are due to poaching, seizure or accidents. India’s tiger reserves on just about a quarter of the world tiger habitat are also threatened by conflicts with humans, including rise in killing of livestock and people, inadequacy of trained forest staff, as well as development of infrastructure such as roads and hydropower projects. Tiger-human conflicts need attention and the government is studying how many tigers can be accommodated so that there are substantial benefits to communities, Yadav said, pointing out the significance of wild cats for human health and green infrastructure. “For water security you need to preserve tigers,” said Yadav. “Several sweet water streams originate in tiger reserves. These are the factories of producing clean water and air for the country.”

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday told Parliament that the tiger population in the world’s larest mangrove forest, Sundarbans,  is rising following measures taken by the government.   “Actually, the Sundarbans is expanding. The number of tigers has risen,” she said replying to a tabled question from Awami League MP Sultana Nadira (Women Seat-15). Read:International vaccine institute to be set up in Bangladesh: Hasina The prime minister mentioned different steps taken by her government to save the Sundarbans and its biodiversity. She said there were 106 tigers in the Sundarbans, according to the tiger census conducted through camera tracking in 2015. But the number rose at 114 as per the 2018 tiger census. Sheikh Hasina said the numbers of trees and tigers have got increased due to the government’s measures (she mentioned in answer) and strengthening the forest management. The reserve of carbon rose at 139 metric tonnes in 2019 from 106 metric tonnes in 2009, she said. The Leader of the House said the Sundarbans is home for 334 species of plants, 175 species of algae, 13 species of orchids and 365 species of wildlife.  Among the wildlife, there are 42 species of mammals, 35 species of reptiles, 6 species of amphibians, 315 species of birds, 210 species of fish, 24 species of shrimps and 14 species of crabs, she said. Read:Plant more trees for greener future: Hasina She said the government has taken measures to make foresters a time-befitting force to protect trees and wildlife in the Sundarbans.

A total of 38 tigers died in the last 20 years in Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans.