In the past six years, the tiger population in Bangladesh’s Sundarbans has risen by 11, now totaling 125, according to a recent survey conducted by the Forest Department. This growth was mainly observed in the Khulna region, while the Satkhira region saw a decline in tiger numbers. Experts attribute this to poaching and a shortage of prey, particularly deer, in the area.
The Forest Department is set to officially release the full report today, based on surveys conducted between January 2023 and March 2024. Covering 2,240 square kilometers of forest, the study used 657 camera traps, capturing 7,297 tiger photos out of 31,482 total images. Additionally, a field survey was conducted across 1,306 kilometers of the forest’s waterways, where tiger footprints were counted to estimate the population density—approximately 2.62 tigers per 100 square kilometers.
Chief Conservator of Forests, Amir Hossain Chowdhury, confirmed the encouraging growth but emphasized the need for further conservation efforts. The study revealed an imbalance in the male-to-female ratio, particularly in the Khulna range, where there is one male tiger for every 12 females, posing a risk of rapid decline if corrective actions are not taken.
The Satkhira region saw a decrease in tigers, primarily due to poaching, with most tiger cubs and body parts being trafficked through India and Tibet to East Asian countries like China and Thailand.
However, the report also highlighted a positive trend: the number of tiger cubs has grown from 5 in previous surveys (2015 and 2018) to 21 this year, offering hope for future population increases.