Bengal Tiger

Sundarbans Tiger Reserve – western Reserve – western India and India and southeastern southeastern Bangladesh Bangladesh Located in the Bay of Bengal of Bengal

Located at the mouth of the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers It is the only ecological habitat of the Bengal tiger in the world

Aerial view of the Ganges River Delta

Sundarbans Tiger Reserve Facts Constituted by the Government of India in 1973 under Project Tiger Constituted by the Government of India in 1973 under Project Tiger Contains the largest mangrove forest in the world Contains the largest mangrove forest in the world The preserve lies on a cluster of islands crisscrossed by creeks and river channels The preserve lies on a cluster of islands crisscrossed by creeks and river channels Listed as a “Natural World Heritage Site” in 1987 Listed as a “Natural World Heritage Site” in 1987 Declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1989 Declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1989

Facts Continued 10,000 Square miles 10,000 Square miles Tiger attacks on humans is increasing due to habitat loss and dwindling prey Tiger attacks on humans is increasing due to habitat loss and dwindling prey The Sundarbans lost 28% of its habitat in the last 40 years due to Global Warming – rising sea level The Sundarbans lost 28% of its habitat in the last 40 years due to Global Warming – rising sea level 2 islands have already disappeared 2 islands have already disappeared

Sundarbans Tiger Preserve

Tea plantation

Boats used by Villagers

Villagers are not supposed to enter certain islands earmarked as tiger territories, but they seldom follow the rules Villagers are not supposed to enter certain islands earmarked as tiger territories, but they seldom follow the rules Sundarbans had: Sundarbans had: - 40,000 tigers 1 century ago - 40,000 tigers 1 century ago tigers in the 1960s tigers in the 1960s - Between 75 – 270 tigers today - Between 75 – 270 tigers today Poaching and loss of habit main reasons for loss of tiger population Poaching and loss of habit main reasons for loss of tiger population

Honey Workers

Tigers in Sundarbans are excellent Swimmers – they can swim up to 3 miles at a time

Honey Collectors

Bon Bibi – tiger goddess goddess Pray to the goddess for protection for protection before going into the before going into the park park

Sundarbans Honey Keepers

Tigers Fighting

Tiger claw marks

Problems with Villagers Come to the villages searching for food and easy prey (they have no land to grow food and no resources for firewood) Come to the villages searching for food and easy prey (they have no land to grow food and no resources for firewood) Will stalk a group of men when they go into the forest to search for food and firewood Will stalk a group of men when they go into the forest to search for food and firewood They attack the strongest person first going straight for the neck They attack the strongest person first going straight for the neck Within a year of their husband’s death the family is destitute Within a year of their husband’s death the family is destitute

Threats to the Tiger Loss of Habitat Loss of Habitat Poa ching Poa ching