Bengal TigerBengal Tiger

Bengal Tiger

Sundarbans TigerSundarbans Tiger Reserve – westernReserve – western India and India and southeastern southeastern BangladeshBangladesh

Located in the BayLocated in the Bay of Bengalof Bengal

Located at themouth of theGanges and

Brahmaputra Rivers

It is the onlyecological

habitat of theBengal tigerin the world

Aerial view of the Ganges River Delta

Sundarbans Tiger Reserve FactsSundarbans Tiger Reserve Facts

Constituted by the Government of India in Constituted by the Government of India in 1973 under Project Tiger1973 under Project Tiger

Contains the largest mangrove forest in the Contains the largest mangrove forest in the worldworld

The preserve lies on a cluster of islands The preserve lies on a cluster of islands crisscrossed by creeks and river channelscrisscrossed by creeks and river channels

Listed as a “Natural World Heritage Site” Listed as a “Natural World Heritage Site” in 1987in 1987

Declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1989Declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1989

Facts ContinuedFacts Continued

10,000 Square miles10,000 Square miles Tiger attacks on humans is increasing due Tiger attacks on humans is increasing due

to habitat loss and dwindling preyto habitat loss and dwindling prey The Sundarbans lost 28% of its habitat in The Sundarbans lost 28% of its habitat in

the last 40 years due to Global Warming the last 40 years due to Global Warming – rising sea level– rising sea level

2 islands have already disappeared 2 islands have already disappeared

Sundarbans Tiger PreserveSundarbans Tiger Preserve

Tea plantationTea plantation

Boats used by VillagersBoats used by Villagers

Villagers are not supposed to enter Villagers are not supposed to enter certain islands earmarked as tiger certain islands earmarked as tiger territories, but they seldom follow the territories, but they seldom follow the rulesrules

Sundarbans had:Sundarbans had:

- 40,000 tigers 1 century ago- 40,000 tigers 1 century ago

- 500 tigers in the 1960s- 500 tigers in the 1960s

- Between 75 – 270 tigers today- Between 75 – 270 tigers today Poaching and loss of habit main reasons Poaching and loss of habit main reasons

for loss of tiger populationfor loss of tiger population

Honey WorkersHoney Workers

Tigers in Sundarbans are excellent Swimmers – they can swim up to

3 miles at a time

Honey CollectorsHoney Collectors

Bon Bibi – tigerBon Bibi – tiger

goddessgoddess

Pray to the goddessPray to the goddess

for protectionfor protection

before going into thebefore going into the

parkpark

Sundarbans Honey KeepersSundarbans Honey Keepers

Tigers FightingTigers Fighting

Tiger claw marksTiger claw marks

Problems with VillagersProblems with Villagers

Come to the villages searching for food and Come to the villages searching for food and easy prey (they have no land to grow food and easy prey (they have no land to grow food and no resources for firewood)no resources for firewood)

Will stalk a group of men when they go into Will stalk a group of men when they go into the forest to search for food and firewoodthe forest to search for food and firewood

They attack the strongest person first going They attack the strongest person first going straight for the neckstraight for the neck

Within a year of their husband’s death the Within a year of their husband’s death the family is destitutefamily is destitute

Threats to the TigerThreats to the Tiger

Loss of HabitatLoss of Habitat PoaPoaching ching