Photo: BSS

KHULNA, July 28, 2025 (BSS) - The government has taken steps to increase the Royal Bengal Tiger population in the Sundarbans by 25 percent over the next 10 years, ahead of International Tiger Day to be observed tomorrow (Tuesday).

The Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, is home to the iconic Royal Bengal Tiger. However, climate change and human-induced threats have led to a sharp decline in the tiger population - from 440 in 2004 to just 106 in 2015, according to officials.

According to the latest survey by the Forest Department, 125 tigers were found in 2023-24, up from 114 in 2018. However, the count excluded cubs and deceased tigers due to data limitations.

Between 2018 and 2024, nine tigers died and two skins were recovered. The 2023-24 survey also did not include 21 cubs.

At a press conference on October 27, 2024, Environment Ministry adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said the current tiger density is 2.64 per 100 square kilometres, compared to 2.17 in 2015 when the first modern camera-trapping survey was conducted.

Over 318 days, 1,210 cameras were set up across 605 grids in Satkhira, Khulna, Chandpai, and Sharankhola ranges, capturing 7,297 tiger photos - the highest ever recorded. Though many cubs were observed, they were not included in the final count due to high mortality rates.

Experts said that their existence remains highly vulnerable due to climate change, a decline in prey, poaching activities, and inadequate protection.

Against this backdrop, Global Tiger Day will be observed tomorrow (Tuesday), with the theme "Increase Tiger Population, Enrich the Sundarbans."

Thanks to the initiatives and conservation measures taken by the interim government, recent surveys have shown a slight increase in tiger numbers.

However, Sundarbans enthusiasts and wildlife experts stress the urgent need for stronger protective actions. The Forest Department also emphasizes its commitment to achieving these conservation goals.

Given the Sundarbans' fragile ecosystem, tigers play a critical role. Experts and conservationists agree that beyond climate threats, minimizing human interference is vital to ensure their survival.

Talking to BSS, Professor Anwarul Kadir, Director of the Sundarbans Academy, said that illegal poachers are endangering tiger lives alongside climate change risk.

He emphasized the need to identify and address these threats and to strengthen security in the forest, along with increasing research.

Dr. Abdullah Harun Chowdhury, a professor of Environmental Science at Khulna University (KU), said climate change is seriously threatening the existence of tigers and other wildlife.

"The Sundarbans provides a favourable environment for tiger breeding, and it is likely that the tiger population will continue to grow in the future," he said.

He warned that poachers smuggle tigers and their cubs abroad, posing a grave risk to their survival. He called for greater vigilance from the Forest Department and law enforcement agencies, along with different people's committees formed for wildlife protection.

He also noted that tiger breeding is disrupted by unrestricted human movement in designated sanctuary zones. To support tiger conservation, he recommended restricting public access to these areas.

Contacted, Imran Ahmed, Forest Conservator of the Khulna region, said that the declining population of deer, the primary prey for tigers, is a growing concern.

The Forest Department is taking steps to increase the tiger population by 25 percent over the next ten years.

He also stressed the importance of more research into tiger diseases and protection during natural disasters, such as tidal surges and climate change.

Terming that the interim government has taken massive measures to protect Sundarbans' wildlife, including the Royal Bengal Tiger, he said projects underway include building earthen forts for tiger safety during storms, using nylon fencing to prevent tigers from entering villages, and raising awareness among locals about the importance of tigers.

In an effort to further protect this critically endangered species, the government has designated over half of the Sundarbans (53.52 percent) as a protected area, prohibiting resource extraction. To reduce human-tiger conflicts, a 60-kilometre nylon fence is being erected near human settlements, and 12 raised earthen shelters have been built within the forest to safeguard wildlife during storms.