Bengal Tiger Bengal Tiger Bengal Tiger
Dec 16, 2015
Sundarbans TigerSundarbans Tiger Reserve – westernReserve – western India and India and southeastern southeastern BangladeshBangladesh
Located in the BayLocated in the Bay of Bengalof Bengal
Located at themouth of theGanges and
Brahmaputra Rivers
It is the onlyecological
habitat of theBengal tigerin the world
Sundarbans Tiger Reserve FactsSundarbans Tiger Reserve Facts
Constituted by the Government of India in Constituted by the Government of India in 1973 under Project Tiger1973 under Project Tiger
Contains the largest mangrove forest in the Contains the largest mangrove forest in the worldworld
The preserve lies on a cluster of islands The preserve lies on a cluster of islands crisscrossed by creeks and river channelscrisscrossed by creeks and river channels
Listed as a “Natural World Heritage Site” Listed as a “Natural World Heritage Site” in 1987in 1987
Declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1989Declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1989
Facts ContinuedFacts Continued
10,000 Square miles10,000 Square miles Tiger attacks on humans is increasing due Tiger attacks on humans is increasing due
to habitat loss and dwindling preyto habitat loss and dwindling prey The Sundarbans lost 28% of its habitat in The Sundarbans lost 28% of its habitat in
the last 40 years due to Global Warming the last 40 years due to Global Warming – rising sea level– rising sea level
2 islands have already disappeared 2 islands have already disappeared
Villagers are not supposed to enter Villagers are not supposed to enter certain islands earmarked as tiger certain islands earmarked as tiger territories, but they seldom follow the territories, but they seldom follow the rulesrules
Sundarbans had:Sundarbans had:
- 40,000 tigers 1 century ago- 40,000 tigers 1 century ago
- 500 tigers in the 1960s- 500 tigers in the 1960s
- Between 75 – 270 tigers today- Between 75 – 270 tigers today Poaching and loss of habit main reasons Poaching and loss of habit main reasons
for loss of tiger populationfor loss of tiger population
Bon Bibi – tigerBon Bibi – tiger
goddessgoddess
Pray to the goddessPray to the goddess
for protectionfor protection
before going into thebefore going into the
parkpark
Problems with VillagersProblems with Villagers
Come to the villages searching for food and Come to the villages searching for food and easy prey (they have no land to grow food and easy prey (they have no land to grow food and no resources for firewood)no resources for firewood)
Will stalk a group of men when they go into Will stalk a group of men when they go into the forest to search for food and firewoodthe forest to search for food and firewood
They attack the strongest person first going They attack the strongest person first going straight for the neckstraight for the neck
Within a year of their husband’s death the Within a year of their husband’s death the family is destitutefamily is destitute