Due to different barriers to free movement of tigers in the Sundarbans, inbreeding occurs among a small population – compromising the genetic diversity of these big cats which eventually results in diseased and weak cubs.
Chief conservator of Forest Department Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury told UNB, “Big rivers like Shibsa, Poshur, and Pangashia are dividing the Bengal tiger into small populations, which result in inbreeding. Inbreeding among tigers with similar genes increases the morbidity and mortality rate of the tigers.”
Transferring of the tigers from one population to another inside the Sundarbans can increase their genetic variety, possibility to survive and as a result the number of tigers will rise, he added.
Amid the growing concern over extinction facing the tiger, 13 tiger-populated countries including Bangladesh are celebrating International Tiger Day 2022 on Friday with different programmes to create awareness.
Read: Panic after tiger strays into Satkhira village
This year’s slogan for the day is “Tiger is our pride, everyone’s responsibility to protect”.
According to Sundarbans East Forest Department the tiger population may increase in Bangladesh part of Sundarbans in this year’s census, which is good news for environmentalists and animal lovers across the globe.
According to a survey conducted in 2018 by camera trapping, there were 114 tigers.
Sundarban tigers: Inbreeding leads to generation of weak, diseased cubs
Photo: UNB
According to the Forest Department, from 2001 to 2021, about 49 tigers died in the Sundarbans. Of them, 22 tigers died in Sundarban’s eastern division and 16 in western division. Besides, members of law enforcement forces recovered 11 tiger skins and body parts from different areas.
After 2017-18 no tiger census was conducted in the forest which is the only habitat of Royal Bengal Tigers in Bangladesh.
A project called ‘Sundarbans Tiger Conservation’ was approved in March this year by the government but it has not been funded yet, said chief conservator Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury.
The top forest official said that the work of counting tigers in Sundarbans may start in the next winter season subject to the availability of funds.
Research has shown that the Sundarbans have the capacity to habitat 200 tigers, said Mihir Kumar Do, Forest Conservator of Khulna region.
He said the forest department is implementing various initiatives to increase the number of tigers from the present number.
“In order to ensure unimpeded breeding of all kinds of wildlife including tigers, the entry of tourists and fishermen into the Sundarbans have been prohibited during the three months of June, July and August,” he added.
Read:The big cat count: Tiger census in Sunderbans begins in April
“Recently, tourists and forest staff have spotted tigers of different sizes in various parts of the Sundarbans. At the same time, tiger footprints have been observed in different areas of the forest, suggesting an increase in the number of tigers in the Sundarbans,” said Md Belayet Hossain, divisional forest officer (DFO-east) of the Sundarbans.
The activity of robbers in the Sundarbans has declined in the past few years as they have surrendered to law enforcers and returned to normal life.
Along with that the activity of poachers also decreased. The forest department in Sundarban claims that due to these improvements the tiger population in the Sundarbans is very protected and their wandering area is also safe now.
DFO Belayet Hossain said apart from the regular operations, Smart Patrol is being conducted in the Sundarbans to stop the activities of tiger poachers. Along with the Forest Department, CMC, CPG and BTRC regularly patrol the Sundarbans boundary area, he said.
Source: United News of Bangladesh
Wind of ‘Hawa’ blows full
Moviegoers drifted with the wind of “Hawa” as Mejbaur Rahman Sumon’s debut film, one of the most-anticipated Bangladeshi cinemas in recent times, hit theatres of the country Friday.
Despite not being released during any major festivity, the film garnered an overwhelming response from the audience before and after its release. On the first day of its screening, Hawa hit 23 theatres all over Bangladesh and had 66 houseful shows.
In Dhaka, Hawa is being showcased at nine theatres, including all branches of Star Cineplex – Bashundhara City in Panthapath, Shimanto Shambhar in Dhanmondi, Sony Square in Mirpur, SKS Tower, Mohakhali and Bangabandhu Military Museum in Bijoy Sarani – Shyamoli Cinema Hall, Modhumita, Blockbuster Cinemas, and Lion Cinemas.
Tickets were sold out in most of these theatres almost two-three days ago. Massive crowds, eager to set sail with Hawa, were seen in front of the ticket counters in almost every theatre.
There will be 23 showings of Hawa at Star Cineplex on its opening day. This is the first time that a movie will have this many showings upon its launch at the Cineplex, whose website was down due to the volume of people trying to buy tickets.
“After so many days, Bangla movie fans have been to the cinema in such big numbers,” Star Cineplex Senior Manager (Media and Marketing) Mesbah Uddin Ahmed told UNB.
“Although there is a big audience for foreign films, Bangla films are now thriving as well and we feel really proud to see massive crowds of movie fans. I hope they will keep coming back to watch Bangla movies.”
“Our film has had houseful shows across the country. I am overwhelmed. I have not seen this kind of hype around a movie in the last two decades,” Chanchal Chowdhury, who portrays the role of Chan Majhi, the leader of a group of fishermen stuck on a fishing boat, told the media after the screening of Hawa at Star Cineplex, Bashundhara City.
“Only those who watch Hawa will realise what we had to go through to bring the movie to the theatre. It has never been easy.”
“Now many people are coming to the movie theatres to watch the result of our hard work and determination. There cannot be a greater reward than this for us,” Chanchal said.
Read: 10 Best Upcoming Bengali Movies in Eid-ul-Adha 2022
Outside Dhaka, Hawa is being showcased in Sena Auditorium in Savar, Cinescope in Narayanganj, Silver Screen, Sugondha, Cinema Palace in Chattogram, Shankha Cinema and Liberty Cineplex in Khulna, Rupkotha in Pabna, Roots Cineclub in Sirajganj, Shapla in Rangpur, Modhuban Cinema and Momo in Bogura, Chhayabani in Mymensingh, and Borsha Cinema in Gazipur, and Grand Sylhet Cineplex in Sylhet.
Hawa revolves around a river gipsy girl who appears unannounced on a fishing boat that has become trapped in the middle of the ocean while narrating a metaphysical story. The film features Chanchal, Nazifa Tushi, Sariful Islam Raaz, Sumon Anwar, Nasir Uddin Khan, and Sohel Mondal in the lead roles.
Sukarna Sahed Dhiman, Zahin Faruq Amin, and Sumon wrote the screenplay. Sumon wrote the story and dialogue.
Produced by Sun Music and Motion Pictures and distributed by Jazz Multimedia, Hawa’s song “Shada Shada Kala Kala,” written and tuned by Hashim Mahmud, and “E Hawa,” Meghdol’s tribute to the film, swayed the nation towards the movie.
Source: United News of Bangladesh