Forest Department
Fence to be erected in parts of Sundarbans to tackle human-tiger conflicts
The Forest Department of Bangladesh will install nylon fence at critical locations in the Sundarbans and provide awareness training, aiming to resolve tiger-human conflicts, and increase the tiger population in the world’s largest mangrove forest.
These initiatives are part of a special project of the Forest Department named 'Sundarbans Tiger Conservation Project'.The implementation of the project, with a budget of Tk 35.90 crores, began in April 2022 scheduled for completion in March 202, according to the project director’s office.
Read: Govt measures boost hilsa production in Khulna
Under this project, various activities were planned including a survey of the tigers and prey animals in the Sundarbans, the construction of high dunes and watchtowers, research on canine distemper virus in tigers, and awareness training for VTRT and CPG members, it said.
To prevent tigers from entering nearby localities from the Sundarbans, nylon fence will be erected in 4 to 5 km critical locations initially. If this proves successful, 60 km area will be brought under fencing.
The Forest Department expressed hopes that the successful implementation of this project will resolve tiger-human conflicts, reduce human-induced tiger killings, and increase the tiger population.
Read: Khulna fuel traders start indefinite strike with 3-point demand
The primary focus of the project is the survey of tigers and prey animals. So far, camera trapping surveys have been completed for tigers, prey animals, and canals in the Khulna and Satkhira ranges under Sundarbans West Forest Division.
The survey in the Sharankhola and Chandpai ranges under East Forest Division is set to commence in November, with the report expected to be published in July 2024.
Abu Nasser Mohsin Hossain, Divisional Forest Officer of Sundarbans West Forest Division and Project Director of the Sundarban Tiger Conservation Project, said camera trapping work for the tiger survey in Satkhira and Khulna ranges has been successfully completed.
All officers and employees of the Sundarbans East and West Forest Divisions will undergo training to enhance their tiger conservation skills.
Read: Rail link with Khulna restored after 7 hours
“Training sessions for CPG and VTRT members will start soon. Additionally, several activities are planned for tiger conservation and increasing their numbers,” he said.
“All project activities will be documented on video, and these recordings will be used to create documentary films. These films will later prove valuable to officials and volunteers dedicated to Sundarbans and tiger conservation,” he added.
According to the project plan, 12 high dunes will be constructed inside the Sundarbans to offer shelter to tigers during floods, storms, and high tides. A tower will also be installed in the Dhansagar area of the Sarankhola range tiger sanctuary to monitor fires. From this tower, forest guards and volunteers will be able to swiftly manage fires in the Sundarbans in that region.
As part of the project, research will be conducted on the canine distemper virus. Tiger feces will be collected from the Sundarbans, and domestic researchers will study the virus infection in the tigers' teeth through these fecal samples.
Read: Onion prices soar in Khulna market after India slaps duty on export
On the other hand, 340 members of the Village Tiger Response Team (VTRT) and 184 members of the Community Patrol Group (CPG) will receive training to resolve human-tiger conflicts in the Sundarbans.
Additionally, two tigers that often enter the locality will be fitted with satellite trackers. Forest officers will provide apps to CPG and VTRT members for tracking tigers' movements, allowing them to monitor tiger activity on their mobile phones. Consequently, if a tiger approaches the locality, they will be able to quickly guide it back to the Sundarbans.
Furthermore, for the project's implementation, various equipment such as drone cameras, satellite trackers, nylon fences, GPS devices, tranquilizing agents for tiger sedation, cameras, VTRT equipment, and various auxiliary materials, including clothing and training materials for CPG members, will be procured.
Read more: Save Sundarbans, save Bangladesh: Environmentalists call for protecting largest mangrove forest
3-month ban on fishing, tourism in Sundarbans begins on June 1
A three-month ban on fishing and tourism in the Sundarbans will start from June 1 to ensure safe breeding and movement of fish and wild animals.
Movement of all types of vessels including boats, fishing trawlers in the rivers and canals as well as the entry of fishermen and honey collectors will remain suspended from June 1 to August 31.
No local for foreign tourists will be allowed to enter the forest during the period.
According to the Forest Department, 251 species of fish release eggs during this monsoon and so fishing will not allowed in the forest.
Read more: Environment Minister for measures to stop deer hunting in Sundarbans
Besides, the ban will be applicable for safe breeding of 315 species of birds, 35 species of reptiles and 42 types of mammals.
The authorities think the breeding by the fish and different species of animals will be obstructed due to sound of operating water vehicles in the water bodies.
No tourists will be allowed to visit the country’s lone wildlife breeding center ‘Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Center’ and 11 other tourist spots.
Hawlader Azad Kabir, in-charge of the breeding center, said ignoring the matter of revenue earning the government took the ban initiative to increase beautification of the forest and ensure safe breeding of fish and animals.
Read more: Tourists can’t carry single-use plastics in Sundarbans: Environment Minister
He said tough action will be taken if the restriction is ignored.
One held with 20kg venison from Sundarbans
The forest department officials on Thursday evening detained a man with 20kg venison from the Nilkamal area of the Sundarbans in Khulna.
The detainee was identified as Hiru Akon of Barguna.
Read more: Two sent to jail for possessing deer meat in Bhola
Zahirul Islam, in-charge of Nilkamal Wildlife Sanctuary in the Sundarbans, said a patrol team of the forest department detained Akon, "a member of a deer poaching gang," while he along with others was trying to flee the scene after sensing the forest officers' presence.
The team also seized a fishing boat, a gun, 19 rounds of bullets, equipment used to trap deer, and sharp weapons.
Read more: Venison, deer skin seized in Bagerhat
"Akon was sent behind bars Thursday. And legal action will be taken against others," Zahirul said.
16 fishermen held for catching Parshe fries in Sundarbans defying ban
The Forest Department has detained 16 fishermen from the Sundarbans for catching Parshe (mullet) fries, during its breeding period from November-January, from the river and canals defying a ban.
A team of Forest Department (West) led by Zahirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Nilkomol Patrol Outpost, detained the fishermen around 4:30am on Thursday during a drive at the Bangabandhur Char area, said Divisional Forest Officer of Sundarbans West Forest Division Abu Naser Mohsin Hossain.
They also seized two fishing boats, he added. "A case has been filed under the Forest Act; the fishermen have been sent to Koyra Upazila Senior Judicial Magistrate Court."
Read more: 11 kidnapped fishermen rescued in Sundarbans: Police
Fishermen of Shyamnagar, Koyra, Paikgacha, and Dakop surrounding the Sundarbans are using illegal nets to catch fish fries.
The fishermen illegally catch a large number of fish fries from the Sundarbans' Alor Kol, Dublar Char, Batlurchar, Chachanangla, Poshur, Agun Jala, Kalir Char, Gera Chalki, Bajbaja, Hanshoraj, Andarmanik, Dhangmari; Chichkhali and Majjat rivers.
Due to the use of monofilament nets, Parshe fish fries and different species of fish are being killed.
Around 20-25 groups of 8-10 fishermen on engine-driven fishing boats are using 200-300-metre long and 40-50-metre wide nets to catch a maund of fish fries of different species in each haul every day.
Also, some forest officials tip the fishermen off when their senior officials prepare for conducting a drive in the Sundarbans. Next, the fishermen hide in the forest. And when the drive is over they resume their illegal fishing.
Read more: 26 rescued Bangladeshi fishermen return from India
Poshur River Waterkeeper Coordinator Md Nur Alam Sheikh said a group of money lenders pay low-income fishermen a lot of money in advance to send them to the Sundarbans to make extra profit with fish fries.
Some forest officials and employees are also cooperating with them in exchange for a large amount of money, he added.
Tiger census: Installation of cameras begins in Sundarbans
The Forest Department has started setting up a total of 1,330 cameras at 665 spots in the Sundarbans to count tigers, deer and pigs.
Abu Naser, forest official of Sundarbans West zone and director of Sundarbans Tiger Conservation Project’ project, said the camera installation work started at Kalabogi Ecotourism Center around 9 am on Sunday (January 01, 2023).
The Forest Department – under the ‘Sundarbans Tiger Conservation Project’ involving Tk 3.27 crore – took preparations for installing cameras on both sides of the canals under Kalabogi Forest Station of Khulna Range from December 15 last year.
Abu Naser said apart from counting tigers, this year, the Forest Department will count deer and pigs as well under the project.
Read more: Killing tigers in the Sundarbans: Offenders get off scot-free for lack for evidence
They have divided the project into two categories – camera trapping and canal survey. Primarily, the survey along both sides of the canals in Sundarbans has started and through the process, the movement and pugmarks of tigers will be pointed out.”
Through the camera trapping process, the authorities concerned will take snaps for two years and later they will analyse the photos captured for the next two months, and after that they will figure out the numbers, he said.
A technical committee has already been formed and the committee decided to install cameras at 665 spots, he added. Of these, 200 will be set up in Satkhira range, 140 in Khulna range, 180 in Sharankhola and 145 in Chandpai range of the Sundarbans, said Abu Naser.
Two cameras will be installed in each grid and a total of 1,330 cameras will be set up.
Read more: Sundarban tigers: Inbreeding leads to generation of weak, diseased cubs
Asked about the number of tigers, the project director said, “The exact figure of tigers will be known after the census. Earlier, it was difficult for tourists to see any tiger during their Sundarbans visit but now, they can take photos of 3-4 tigers which indicates that the number might have increased.”
The tiger census will be conducted in and outside the wildlife sanctuary and the authorities concerned will conduct the survey in the less, more and most saline areas of the Sundarbans, he said.
Tigers mostly hunt deer, but they also eat pigs, monkeys and crabs and another survey will be conducted to figure out their eating habits in 2024, he added.
Three hundred and forty members under 49 village tiger response teams and 185 members of community patrol groups under the four ranges will be given training to conduct the survey.
Read more: Sundarbans to have 4 more eco-tourism centres
Resident launches and support boats have been hired for four months under the projects while 200 special category cameras, battery, and SD cards will be purchased.
Mihir Kumar Doe, forest conservator of Khulna Circle, said the project includes monitoring the movement by setting up satellite collars on two tigers, identifying diseases and infections among tigers, collecting data and publishing a report after research.
Besides, fire extinguishing equipment, pipes and drones will also be purchased using the funds to save tigers from forest fires during dry season.
Alongside, an initiative will be taken to erect fences in 60 km areas of the Sundarbans, using nylon, to prevent the entry of tigers into villages, he said.
Read More: Counting tigers in Sundarbans: Forest Dept to set up 1,330 cameras under Khulna Range from Jan 1
Besides, 12 towers will be set up in the Sundarbans to protect tigers from cyclonic storms, said Mihir Kumar. Under the project, twelve consultant experts have been hired in the short term for special training, survey completion, data collection, preparation of report and analysis, he said.
On March 23 last year, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change gave its nod to the project, involving Tk 35.93 crore. Of the project, only Tk 3.27 crore will be spent for tiger census and the tenure of the project is fixed from April 2022 to June 2025.
There are 3,840 tigers in 13 countries of the world. In 2015, the number of tigers in the Sundarbans was 106 and in 2018, that number went up to 114. Of these, 63 are mature, 18 between the age of 12-14 months, and 33 are cubs.
Read More: Tiger range countries should work together to save the tigers: Minister
Counting tigers in Sundarbans: Forest Dept to set up 1,330 cameras under Khulna Range from Jan 1
Bangladesh Forest Department authorities will set up a total of 1,330 cameras at 665 spots in the Sundarbans, under Khulna Range – to count tigers, deer and pigs from January 1, 2023.
The Forest Department – under the ‘Sundarbans Tiger Conservation Project’ involving Tk 3.27 crore – has started installing cameras on both sides of the canals under Kalabogi Forest Station of Khulna Range from December 15 and the count will start from January 1 next year.
Abu Naser, forest official of Sundarbans East zone and director of the project, said, “Apart from counting tigers, this year, the forest department will count deer and pigs as well under the project. They have divided the project into two categories – camera trapping and canal survey. Primarily, the survey along both sides of the canals in Sundarbans has started and through the process, the movement and pugmarks of tigers will be pointed out.”
Through the camera trapping process, the authorities concerned will take snaps for two years and later they will analyse the photos captured for the next two months, and after that they will figure out the numbers, he said.
Also read: Tiger population at risk in Sundarbans: 38 tigers died in 20 years in Bangladesh
A technical committee has already been formed and the committee decided to install cameras at 665 spots, he added. Of these, 200 will be set up in Satkhira Range, 140 in Khulna Range, 180 in Sharankhola and 145 in Chandpai Range, said Abu Naser.
Two cameras will be installed in each grid and a total of 1,330 cameras will be set up.
Asked about the number of tigers, the project director said, “The exact figure of tigers will be known after the census. Earlier, it was difficult for tourists to see any tiger during their Sundarbans visit but now, they can take photos of 3-4 tigers which indicates that the number might have increased.”
The tiger census will be conducted in and outside the wildlife sanctuary and the authorities concerned will conduct the survey in the less, more and most saline areas of the Sundarbans, he said.
Also read: Sundarban tigers: Inbreeding leads to generation of weak, diseased cubs.
Deer that crossed over from India dies after locals give chase
A deer that crossed the Indian border and entered Bangladesh on Sunday died after being chased by locals in Siktihari village in Atwari upazila of Panchagarh.
The Forest Department and Upazila Livestock office confirmed the unfortunate deer died of excessive bleeding from its wounded leg while running for its life from the villagers.
Read:4 ‘deer poachers’ held in Khulna
“The deer entered Bangladesh in search of food from the Indian side of the border. Informed by some locals, we rescued it in a critical condition," said Mushfiqul Alam Halim, Atwari Upazila Nirbahi Officer.
“The deer died before our eyes and later we buried it after an autopsy,” said Rishikesh Ray, Panchagarh range officer of the Forest Division.
Critically-endangered Batagur Baska lays 34 eggs in the Sundarbans
Another Batagur Baska, a rare species of river turtle, has laid 34 eggs at Wildlife Breeding Centre in Karamjal in the Sundarbans.
The tortoise laid these eggs on the bank of the pond of the breeding center on Saturday night. The Forest Department is trying to hatch the babies naturally by keeping the eggs covered with sand, said Azad Kabir, in-charge of the centre.
Read: Sundarbans tourism to cost more as authorities move to boost revenue income
The eggs are kept in a specific temperature and humidity in the breeding center area and are constantly monitored.
The forest department said the eggs are expected to hatch after 65-67 days.
Batagur Baska is one of the most critically endangered turtles in the world and can only be found in the wild in the mangroves of Bangladesh and India.
In 2017, two turtles of the same species laid 63 eggs, of which 57 hatched. In 2018, two turtles laid 46 eggs, of which 26 hatched. In 2019, one turtle laid 32 eggs and all of them hatched, while in 2020, two turtles laid 56 eggs of which 52 hatched. Till 2021, 241 tortoises have hatched from these eggs.
Research on this rare species of tortoise is underway in the Sundarbans.
According to Azad Kabir, two tortoises fitted with GPS transmitter satellites were released from Karamjal in 2017, five each in 2018 and 2019 in different rivers and canals of the Sundarbans to get information about the life cycle, reproduction and numbering of endangered Batagur Baska tortoises.
Of the 12 turtles with satellites, one died in Barisal in 2018, two were roaming in India, and two were caught in the nets of fishermen after roaming different rivers and canals.
Read: Tiger recovered from Sundarbans canal most likely died of natural causes
Later, the two turtles were rescued from the fishermen and kept in the pond of Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Center. They do not know the current location of the remaining of the turtles fitted with satellites.
In 2014, this turtle breeding center was set up in the pond of Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Center in the Sundarbans with 11 male and four female tortoises of Batagur Baska species. Later, a few more baby turtles were collected from different areas and released in the pond.
4 ‘deer poachers’ held in Khulna
Forest Department officials have detained four suspected deer poachers with traps from Sundarbans in Koyra upazila of Khulna.
The detainees were--Kohinur Islam, 27, Aminul Rahman, 28, Ahsan Dulal, 26, and Helal Gazi, 25, of Jorshing village of the upazila.
AZM Hasanur Rahman, Khulna Range Assistant Forest Conservator (ACF), said the four men were held from Murli Kuruli Khal area of Sundarbans around 7pm on Thursday.
Read: 2 forest officials injured in attack by deer hunters in Bagerhat
At that time, 500 deer traps and three boats were seized from their possession.
A case has been filed against the poachers in this regard, he said.
They were also produced before the court of Koyra Upazila Senior Judicial Magistrate, the official added.
Tiger recovered from Sundarbans canal most likely died of natural causes
The Forest Department recovered a dead tiger's carcass from Rupar canal near Dublarchar at the Sundarbans in Bagerhat on Friday morning.
Muhammad Belayet Hossain, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Sundarbans Eastern Division, said members of the Forest Department were on patrol on Friday morning when they saw the tiger carcass floating in Rupar canal of the forest.
The approximate age of the male tiger was 16 to 17 years, the official said.
This forest official believed that the Royal Bengal Tiger died due to aging as no wounds were noticed on the tiger's body.
However, an autopsy will ascertain the cause of death, he added.
Tigers' death in Sundarbans
Earlier, a tiger carcass was recovered from the Dhanchebaria sandbar on the Bhola River in the eastern part of the Sundarbans in March 2021. In July 2020, two tigers had died in the eastern and western parts of the Sundarbans in just five and a half months, said the Forest Department.
According to the Forest Department, 40 tigers have died in the Sundarbans in various ways from 2001 to January 28 of 2022.
Of these, 24 tigers died in the eastern part of the Sundarbans while 16 in the western part.
Also read: Dead tiger’s autopsy conducted in Sundarbans
Sometimes tigers are killed by poachers. Besides, some tigers died after being beaten by the locals when they came out of the Sundarbans.
And some tigers died in natural disasters as well as due to illness and aging.
On the other hand, about 20 tiger hides have been recovered during this period.
According to the latest survey of 2018, there were 114 tigers in the Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans. However, the Forest Department cannot say how many tigers there are in the Sundarbans right now.
The Forest Department hopes that the number of tigers in the Sundarbans has increased due to various initiatives taken to protect the tigers.
Read: Govt withdraws ban on tourist launch movement in Sundarbans