UPSC Articles
Increase in the the tiger count in the Sundarbans
Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment
In News:
- As per the latest census conducted by the West Bengal Forest Department, the tiger count in the Sundarbans for 2019-20 has increased from 88 to 96.
- It is the highest annual jump reported from the Sundarbans.
- Estimation of the number of tigers in the Sunderbans has always been a challenge because of the difficult terrain that comprises dense mangrove forests, with creeks and rivulets, and floods twice a day during the high tides.
Important value additions:
Sundarbans
- It is a vast mangrove forest ecosystem in the coastal region of Bay of Bengal.
- It is spread over India and Bangladesh on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers.
- It is the only mangrove forest in the world inhabited by tigers.
- Indian Sundarbans has been recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
- It also comes under ‘Wetland of International Importance’ under the Ramsar Convention.
- It is home to rare and globally threatened species, such as the Northern River Terrapin, Royal Bengal Tiger, Irrawaddy Dolphin, and the Fishing Cat.
