According to the most recent “Sundarbans Tiger Survey 2024,” the number of tigers in the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world, has grown by 11 since the previous survey. Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan revealed the results at a press conference held at the Secretariat today. The results show that there are 125 tigers this year compared to 114 in 2018.
Adviser Rizwana attributed the growth to ongoing conservation efforts and stricter habitat protections. Citing data from the survey, she stated, “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.”
The camera trapping method, which has been in use since 2015, was employed in the survey. 1,210 cameras were placed over 605 grids over a 318-day period in strategic Sundarbans areas, such as the Satkhira, Khulna, Chandpai, and Sharankhola ranges. The highest number of tiger photos ever recorded was 7,297, which were taken for this year’s survey.
Notably, the official count did not include the 21 tiger cubs that were spotted during the survey. “Tiger cubs are not included in the final count because of their high mortality rate from birth to adulthood,” Advisor Rizwana clarified.
The government has declared 53.52% of the Sundarbans as protected areas, meaning that resource extraction is not allowed, in an attempt to further safeguard this critically endangered species. Twelve raised earthen shelters have been constructed within the forest to protect wildlife during storms, and a 60-kilometer nylon fence is being built near human settlements in an effort to lessen conflicts between humans and tigers.
M. A. Aziz, a zoology professor at Jahangirnagar University who was also present at the press conference, highlighted the Sundarbans’ ideal habitat for tiger reproduction and forecasted additional population growth in the years to come.
The survey, which was carried out as part of the Tk 3.26 crore Sundarbans Tiger Conservation Project, is the third in a series of camera trapping surveys that were started in 2015.