Tiger Population In The Sunderbans Increases From 88 To 96; Sightings Double Too

by Gizel Menezes
Tiger Population In The Sunderbans Increases From 88 To 96; Sightings Double Too

Amidst all the depressing news that we’re surrounded with 24/7 and the occasional tit bits of happy, here is a one more piece of good news emerging right from the heart of Sunderbans!

The tiger population in the Sunderbans has increased from 88 to 96, making it the biggest ever annual jump ever reported. Incredible, isn’t it?

Image Courtesy: News Live TV

Tiger Population In the Sunderbans Increases

According to the West Bengal Forest Department, the tiger count in the Sunderbans has jumped to 96, eight up from the previous year’s count.

And as per their estimates, out of the 96 tigers, there are 23 males, 43 females and 30 tigers whose sex couldn’t be identified. However, 11 tiger cubs have been identified. The estimation exercise was carried out in two phases, the first period commencing in December and the second in January.

The census was carried out by placing about 200 trap cameras in different parts of the forest for about two months. Whereas the counting exercise was done in a lab in Dehradun, where the big cats were identified through their stripe patterns.

Also Read: India’s First Isolation Facility For Animals Has Been Set Up In Uttarakhand’s Corbett National Park

Image Courtesy: Nicholas Daines

Tiger Sightings In The Sunderbans Double During Lockdown

The sighting of the Royal Bengal Tigers in the Sundarbans area has doubled up during this lockdown period. According to officials, the sightings have gone up to at least 4-5 times per week from the usual 2 before the lockdown.

Did you know the Sunderbans delta is the only mangrove forest in the world inhabited by tigers. Spread over a sprawling 2,585 sq km, it includes the Sundarban Tiger Reserve and the 24 Parganas (South) Division.

Estimation of the number of tigers in the Sunderbans has always been a challenge because of its difficult terrain, which includes dense mangrove forests and creeks and rivulets. However, undoubtedly, this increased tiger count is ROARING good news for us!

Also Read: Tiger At NYC’s Bronx Zoo Tests Positive For Coronavirus; Considered To Be A First