Forest Department completes 40km fencing of Sundarbans for tiger conservation

The forest department has completed nylon net fencing of 40 kilometers area of Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, to help the conservation of tigers and protect local people from the attack of this ferocious animal, an official said.

The forest authorities will start fencing more 20 kilometers soon.

The move is part of the Bangladesh Forest Department's three-year Sundarbans Tiger Conservation Project, launched in March 2022 and will end in March 2025, forest officials said.

Talking to BSS, the Forest Officer of Sundarban West Division and also the project Director Dr Abu Naser Mohsin Hossain, said, "Initially, we have erected polypropylene net fencing over 40 kilometers area including Dhansagar, Kaikhali and Kailashganj where the big cats and people are frequently locked into conflicts".

"Net fencing in more 20 kilometers areas will begin soon and the members of the village tiger response team have been involved to supervise it to ensure security," he said.

Under the project, nylon fencing works began on October 2023, at a cost of Taka around 3.27 crore, out of the total project cost of 35.94 crore, aimed at keeping tigers and humans out of each other's spaces.

He, however, said tigers and deer take shelter in mud-forts (mud-made shelter) during natural disasters and high tides of a new full moon.

"We have sent a proposal to the ministry concerned for building new 8 mud-forts in the forest," he added.

"People can easily enter the forest there for their livelihood and locals often send their cattle and buffaloes to the Sundarbans for grazing, luring tigers to attack the domesticated animals," Mohsin said.

Sources said tigers have entered human settlements more than 50 times in the past 15 years, with casualties on both sides during these incidents.

Forest Department data show that 49 tigers died in the Sundarbans between 2001 and 2021.