Tiger population rises to 125, positive news for Sundarban

Bangladesh observed  the Day through various programmes aimed at conserving the natural habitats of tigers and raising public awareness about tiger protection.

This year the Forest Department celebrated the Day with the theme "Tiger Population Growth, Sundarban Prosperity." On this occasion, discussion meetings and various awareness programmes have been organised at the Haimanti Hall of the Forest Bhaban in the capital. Simultaneously, the Day was observed across all ranges of the Sundarban with various activities.

According to the latest survey by the Forest Department, the current number of Royal Bengal Tigers in Bangladesh is 125. This information was published based on a camera trapping survey conducted from January 2023 to March 2024.

In the survey, 1,210 camera traps were installed across 605 grids in the Sundarban for a continuous 318 days. The final tiger count was determined through consultations with experts from India, New Zealand, and the United States, along with the analysis of over one million photos and videos. The analysis yielded a total of 7,297 tiger images, which is the highest compared to any previous survey. The total cost of the survey was approximately Tk 3 crore 40 lakh.

The tiger population in the Sundarban, as recorded through surveys conducted at different times using various methods, was as follows: 2004: a total of 440 tigers, including 21 cubs; 2009: 400 to 450 tigers, according to Forest Department estimates; 2015: the number dropped to 106 in the first camera trapping survey; 2018: the number rose to 114 in a survey using 491 cameras; and 2024: the number increased to 125 in the latest camera trapping and data analysis.

According to experts, this recent increase is a positive indicator that the Sundarban’s ecosystem is in good health. This progress is seen as the result of long-term forest conservation efforts, poaching control, and the expansion of sanctuaries.

Md. Rezaul Karim, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the East Sundarban said, “The tiger is not just a symbol of the Sundarban’s beauty; it is our national heritage and one of the primary forces sustaining the entire ecosystem of the Sundarban”.

He further said,  to protect tigers, the harmful dependence of people on the forest must be reduced. People living in areas adjacent to the Sundarban need to be more aware so that if any tiger strays into human settlements, it must not be killed but safely returned to the forest. 

World Tiger Day has been observed annually on July 29 since the decision was adopted at the Tiger Summit held in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 2010. Experts consider the Royal Bengal Tiger to be of utmost importance as the apex predator in preserving the biodiversity and ecological balance of the Sundarban, one of the world's largest mangrove forests.