Tiger census in Sundarbans to begin in next November

A tiger census using camera trapping method will begin in the Sundarbans, the world's largest and only mangrove forest inhabited by the big cats, in next November, 2022.

"The census will continue for the next 12 months installing 200 specialised cameras in the Sundarbans," Mihir Kumar Doe, conservator of Forest in Khulna Region, said on Thursday at a press briefing held at the West Zone Forest Office here.

"Twelve American experts of Washington-based Conservation Biology Institution will monitor the survey under the Sundarbans Tiger Conservation Project," he said.

Mihir Kumar, also the project director, said that the Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change has approved the three-year project with a cost of Taka 35.94 crore on March 23 in 2022 that will end in March 2025, reports BSS.

Of the project, Taka 3.27 crore will be expensed for tiger census activities- - vessels rent for four months, special cameras and battery collection, consultants fees, workers salaries, training and others relating expenses-- while the remaining Taka 32.67 crore will be spent for establishing 12 shelter centres (Matir Killa) for tigers' protection during the natural
disasters, setting up nylon fencing across 60 kilometers areas, fire distinguished machines, pipe and drone purchase, infrastructures development for 500 trainee, study tours in abroad for 20 officials, researchers and other activities.

He also claimed that tiger breeding has increased in the forest as tiger cubs are found roaming at Nilkomol, Kachikhali and Satkhira ranges.

"We will monitor the activities of each tiger, tigress and tiger cubs through camera trapping method," he said.

Explaining various activities, the Regional Forest boss said at least 185 members of the community petrol group under four ranges and 340 members of 49 village tiger response teams will take training under the project.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Sundarbans West Zone in Khulna Abu Naser Mohsin Hossain, DFO of Wild Life Management and Natural Disaster Preservation Division Nirmol Kumar Paul, among others, attended the press briefing.

As the Sundarbans is the lone natural habitat for the Bengal tiger and tigress, the wildlife is currently facing different challenges in the country due to poaching and destruction of natural forests.

According to the Tiger Census 2015 and 2018, the number of tigers declined to only 106 and 114 respectively in the Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans while
it was 440 in 2004.

Forest Department data also showed that at least 50 tigers were killed during the last 15 years due to illegal poaching of wildlife in the forest ranging 6,017 square kilometers.