Annual Tiger Census to Commence in West Bengal’s Sunderbans

Tiger Census to Commence in West Bengal's Sunderbans

VoM News Desk | November 25, 2023 | 03:40 PM IST | West Bengal | Follow on Google News

Annual Tiger Census to Commence in West Bengal’s Sunderbans

Annual Tiger Census to Commence in West Bengal’s Sunderbans

The Sunderbans in West Bengal is set to initiate its annual tiger census starting November 27, as part of a nationwide effort to track the big cat population in India.

This census is a segment of a larger, national exercise conducted by various states that host tiger populations. The Sunderbans, known for its significant tiger habitat, is a crucial area for this census.

Camera Trap Exercise for Accurate Data

The first phase of the census will involve a camera trap exercise in the Sunderban Tiger Reserve (STR) and adjacent areas of the South 24-Parganas district. The second phase will extend to other nearby parts of the district. Approximately 1,500 cameras have been installed across 720 strategic locations to monitor tiger movements.

Over 40 forest officials, along with local inhabitants, have been trained in camera technology and data retrieval for this exercise. Their involvement is key to the successful execution of the census.

Conservation Efforts and Rising Tiger Population

Efforts to prevent poaching, sensitize villagers, and manage man-animal conflicts have been intensified. Regular release of deer as prey and stronger anti-poaching networks have contributed to an increase in tiger numbers from 96 in 2020-21 to 101 in the last count.

Geographical Spread and Challenges

The West Bengal portion of the Sunderbans, divided between the STR and South 24-Parganas forest division, covers an area of 4,200 square kilometers out of the total 10,200 square kilometers of the Sunderbans. The census aims to estimate tiger density in this vast mangrove forest, acknowledging that some tigers may cross over to other parts, affecting the accuracy of the count.

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