This month only, the much-awaited tiger census will begin in the Sunderbans — the world’s largest and only mangrove delta inhabited by the big cats.
Along with tigers, the government will also enumerate deer and pigs in the delta under the ‘Sundarbans Tiger Conservation Project’ estimated to cost the state exchequer a whopping Tk 35.93 crore.
On March 23, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change gave its nod to the project with a three-year timeline.
“The census will be conducted inside the tiger sanctuary in the Sunderbans as well as its periphery,” Abu Naser Mohsin, divisional forest area officer, told UNB.
This month only, the much-awaited tiger census will begin in the Sunderbans — the world’s largest and only mangrove delta inhabited by the big cats.
Along with tigers, the government will also enumerate deer and pigs in the delta under the ‘Sundarbans Tiger Conservation Project’ estimated to cost the state exchequer a whopping Tk 35.93 crore.
On March 23, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change gave its nod to the project with a three-year timeline.
“The census will be conducted inside the tiger sanctuary in the Sunderbans as well as its periphery,” Abu Naser Mohsin, divisional forest area officer, told UNB.
Two observatory towers will also be established and firefighting equipment and drones will be used under the project as every year some tiger habitats get destroyed in sudden forest fires during the dry season, he said.
A 60km-long fencing will be raised along the villages adjacent to the forest areas as tigers often sneak into human habitats, according to the forest department.
Twelve mud fortresses will also be built in the forest areas where wild animals can take refuge during natural calamities like cyclones.
“The project has a provision for temporary appointment of 12 expert consultants for conducting training, survey, data collection, analysis and preparing reports. Also, all the research and survey work under the project will be recorded as a documentary,” said Mohsin.
Source: United News of Bangladesh