Bangladesh currently has a total of 189 tigers  in the Sundarbans, the country's only tiger habitat, and in zoos across the country which is not sufficient to protect the species from extinction, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku said on Wednesday.

“Tigers are one of the most important wildlife species in the world and an indispensable part of biodiversity. It is extremely important to raise public awareness and build a conservation mindset among the new generation to protect this animal,” the state minister told reporters after a rally at Bangladesh National Zoo marking Global Tiger Day.

He said the global tiger population was around 100,000 about a hundred years ago but has now dwindled to roughly 5,000, a figure that clearly signals the species is under serious threat.

“If we do not take effective initiatives now and fail to raise public awareness, this species will face an even deeper crisis in the future,” he said.

Breaking down the current numbers, the state minister said the Sundarbans is home to 124 tigers, while Bangladesh National Zoo has around 15 and other zoos across the country together have about 50.

He said tigers are a national asset, and the government will continue taking necessary measures for their conservation so that future generations can learn about tigers and understand the importance of protecting them.

Responding to a question from journalists about the budget allocated for tiger census and transparency in the process, the state minister said tiger counting falls under the Forest Department and not the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, adding that the Forest Department carries out the exercise transparently through its own process.

The state minister later inaugurated a souvenir shop at Bangladesh National Zoo.