A Correspondent:
Khulna: The second phase of Tiger census by using camera trapping method in the Sundarbans has began yesterday after five years of the 1st census under the ‘Sundarban Tiger Conservation Project’.
Deputy Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Habibun Nahar inaugurated the tiger census at Harbaria Echo Tourism Center as chief guest.
Conservator of Forest (CF) of the Sundarbans Mihir Kumar Doe, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Sundarban West Division and Project Director (PD) of the Tiger Conservation Project Dr Abu Naser Mohsin Hossain, DFO of East Division of the Sundarbans Md Nurul Karim, DFO of the Wild Life Management and Nature Conservation Nirmol Kumar Paul, among others, were present at the inaugural function.
While talking to the Journalists, the chief guest hoped that the tigers and other wild lives will in-crease in the Sundarbans as the present government has taken various steps for preservation of the Sundarbans.
The census kicked off under the Chandpai and Shoronkhola Range of the Sundarbans. Earlier, the first phase of the tiger census was completed at Satkhira and Khulna Range.
According to the forest department, the census is being carried out by
surveying the rivers and creeks and by looking for footprints of the tigers.
In this regard, the forest department has begun creeks and rivers surveying in the Sundarbans, DFO of the Sundarbans West Division and PD of the Tiger Conservation Project Dr Abu Naser Mohsin Hossain told the yesterday.
“A total of 665 cameras will be installed at 145 points at Chandpai range while 180 points at Shoronkhola range in the Sundarbans and each point will also be installed two cameras for the census to capture pictures of tigers and other animals,” he said, adding that they will later analyse the findings using the advanced technology.
According to the latest survey (2018), there are 114 tigers in the Sundarbans
in Bangladesh, which was 106 in 2015 and 404 in 2004 survey, the PD added.
Currently, the number of tigers may be increased, he said, analyzing the first phase of the tiger census through resource information management system unit.
He said Close Circuit cameras will be installed from Herbaria area to Kokilmoni and Alorkol. Later, it will be installed from Kotka and Kochikhali to Sharonkhola accordingly.
“We will be able to announce the results of the survey by June 2024,” he said.
According to the Forest Department, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and
Climate Change approved a project titled ‘Sundarban Tiger Conservation
Project’ on March 23 this year. The cost of the project was estimated at Taka
35,93,80,000. The project period was set from April this year
to March 2025. The project has two parts–tiger census and tiger
conservation.
According to the forest department, currently 3,840 tigers are surviving in nature in
13 countries of the world.
