The census of Royal Bengal Tigers in the world's largest mangrove forest, Sundarbans, has officially started.
The authorities began the census on December 15 through a canal survey. The next phase of the survey, camera trapping, will begin on January 1.
Tenders were invited for the appointment of four experts for the survey.
Junior experts in camera trapping and canal survey and senior experts in data analysis were recently chosen while the search for two other experts is still ongoing.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) and Project Director of Sundarbans West Division Abu Naser Mohsin said a survey of the canal is undertaken first. On January 1, camera trapping will begin.
He also said that Tk3 crore was approved by the Planning Commission for the survey. The Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change and the Ministry of Finance released a little over Tk1 crore in two installments. After all the activities it will be possible to start tiger survey work.
“The state of the old cameras is presently being observed. We are looking for cameras that will work for this survey. Some 200 brand-new cameras will be used for the survey. Additionally, there is a proposal to replace 100 more of the outdated cameras with 300 new cameras,” he added.
According to the Forest Department, the Sundarbans Tiger Conservation Project was approved in April. The cost of the three-year project was fixed at Tk35.93 crore. A part of the project mentions counting tigers with a budget of Tk3.26 crore.
The project also includes the installation of nylon fencing along 60km of inhabited areas to keep tigers out, the building of 12 mud forts in the forest to house tigers during cyclones and high tides, the construction of two observation towers in the Sundarbans' fire-prone areas, construction and acquisition of tools, pipes and drones for quick fire suppression, instruction of 185 members of four range community patrol groups and 340 members of 49 village Tiger Response Teams in order to address tiger-man conflicts in the Sundarbans, provision of clothing, and hiring of monthly forest workers.
According to the 2018 survey, the number of tigers in the Sundarbans was 114. In the light of Bangladesh Tiger Action Plan (2009-2017), 2010 World Tiger Conference commitments, Second Tiger Action Plan (2016-2027) and Global Tiger Forum decisions, the ministry approved the Tiger Conservation Project with an aims to collect updated information on tigers in the country and to preserve and increase the number of tigers in the Sundarbans.