The number of tigers in Sundarban’s Bangladesh part has grew by 8 percent in the last three years, standing at 114 in 2018 from 106 in 2015, says the latest census.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin unveiled the census ‘Second Phase-Status of Tiger in Bangladesh Sundarbans 2018’ on Wednesday, said a statement by the ministry.
The Forest Department conducted the census in collaboration with WildTeam, an NGO working for tiger conservation in the country, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, USA and Jahangirnagar University under the 2nd phase of Bengal Tiger Conservation Activity project funded by the USAID.
In the census, conducted between Dec 1, 2016 and Apr 24, 2018, camera trapping methodology was used to determine the overall tiger population in the world’s largest mangrove forest of which around 60 percent lies within Bangladesh.
It was conducted in four phases in three blocks of Satkhira, Khulna and Sharankhola ranges of the mangrove forest in 1,656 square kilometer area.
Some 2,466 pictures of 63 adult, four juvenile and five cubs were taken in the 249 days census.
Speaking at the launching of census’ findings, Jahanigrnagar University Biology Professor MA Aziz said the census found 23 tigers in Satkhira block of Sundarbans but there were only two male tigers and rest of them were female.
He said it is alarming that the population of male tiger is dwindling day by day.