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.
