The number of Royal Bengal Tiger has reduced considerably in the largest mangrove forest Sundarbans. Last time, only two tigers were found in the area of about 2000 square kilometers. But, tigers have started growing again in that area. At least 10 to 15 tigers have been spotted in the Khulna area in the tiger survey this year. Several families of tigers including two cubs have been seen. The number of deer, the tiger`s main food in the area, has also increased.
The forest department got these data by analyzing the data of the ongoing survey in the area of about 4000 square kilometers of Sundarbans.
According to forest department sources, one of the survey`s intends this time is to increase the number of tigers in places with less tigers in the Sundarbans, such as Khulna. For this, more tigers will be brought in and released in the Khulna region. However, the survey showed that more tigers were found in Khulna than expected. Now the purpose of the project is being changed to protect tigers in Khulna.
The Sundarbans districts of Khulna, Bagerhat, and Satkhira have been divided into four sections for the survey. More than 1,200 cameras have been deployed in various areas of the forest. If a tiger passes the camera, the photo is immediately captured. The number of tigers is obtained by analyzing the image.
The stripes on the tiger`s skin vary depending on its physical structure. The number of tigers is determined by examining that pattern. Typically, all of the tigers come at the Sundarbans canal to drink water. Tiger footprints remain on the canal`s banks. The impression differs depending on the type of tiger. Thus, the number of tigers is determined by looking at their footprints.
As part of the survey, 1,200 canals of the Sundarbans were observed on the ground. Earlier surveys showed a tiger footprint in every two kilometers on both sides of the canal. This time, the research team saw one impression in every kilometer. This impression indicates an increase in tiger migration in the Sundarbans.
Chief Conservator of Forests Amir Hossain Chowdhury told, "We have launched smart guarding with the help of law enforcement and the local people to protect the tigers of Sundarbans.
Most of the bandits who have been involved in various crimes including tiger killing in Sundarbans have surrendered. Apart from this, the number of tigers has increased due to overall conservation management."
According to the sources of the forest department, bandits regularly hunted tigers in the Sundarbans. Tigers are getting protection as a result of joint operations and increased patrolling. The reproduction rate of tigers has also increased. From 2010 to 2018, two to four people were killed by tiger attacks every year. In the last five years, human deaths due to tiger attacks have decreased.
An average of two people die in tiger attacks every two years. Many of those who died in tiger attacks were members of forest infiltrators.
According to the forest department, tigers are being counted under the Sundarban Tiger Conservation Project. On March 23, last year, the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change granted administrative clearance for the project. This will entail tiger translocation, the placement and monitoring of satellite collars on at least two tigers, the detection of parasite illnesses and other diseases affecting tigers, data gathering and analysis.
In this regard, project director Abu Naser Mohsin Hossain told, "Our entire survey will be completed before this year`s International Tiger Day (July 29). During that time we will publish the results of the survey finally.
In 2004, the first forest department and IUCN jointly conducted a tiger census in the Sundarbans. The number of tigers found in the survey counting footprints is 440. Later in 2015, a survey was carried out using camera to photograph tigers and count footprints."
According to the sources of the Forest Department, the area of the Bangladesh part of the Sundarban is six thousand 17 square kilometers. Out of this, forest land is four thousand 832 and swamp land is one thousand 185 square kilometers. According to 1997 data, 289 species of animals live in this forest land and 219 species in water. According to the 2015 tiger census, there were 106 tigers in the Sundarbans. And in the 2018 census, there were 114.
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