The next tiger census in the Sundarbans may be up against a delay as the allocated fund is yet to be disbursed to the Sundarbans Tiger Conservation Project.
To assess Bengal tigers and their prey in the Sundarbans and also monitor the current situation of the habitat, the government plans to undertake a major survey under the new project of the forest department.
The project aims at conducting a tiger census in the world's largest mangrove forest and taking measures to ensure a safe environment for the big cats in the Sundarbans.
The Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change approved the project involving Tk35.94 crore on March 23 this year.
Dr Abu Naser Mohsin Hossain, project director and Divisional Forest Officer of the Sundarbans West Division, informed Dhaka Tribune that no money has yet been allocated in the current fiscal year.
Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune“Due to this, we are yet to start any work. To conduct a tiger survey and to appoint consultants for further analysis we have asked for funding. Considering the recent austerity measures in allocation by the government we don’t know whether we’ll get the fund or not,” he said.
Of the project, Tk3.27 crore will be expended on tiger census activities. In the camera trapping method, there is a plan to install over 200 cameras in different blocks of the forest to provide data on the tigers’ movements in the Sundarbans.
The project director said the purchase of the cameras has seen no progress due to the halt in disbursement.
The remaining Tk32.67 crore will be spent on establishing 12 shelter centres (Matir Killa) for tiger protection during natural disasters, setting up nylon fencing across 60 kilometers, fire distinguishing machines, pipe and drone purchase, infrastructure development for 500 trainees, study tours, research and other activities.
“We’ll get the budget every year, which will be spent according to the project prospect. If we don’t get the confirmation of this year’s allocation by August, we won't be able to conduct the survey this year,” he added, “as the survey can only be conducted during the winter season.”
Bangladesh’s plan for global summit
The current number of tigers is 2.17 per 100 kilometers, said the project director.
In 2010, at a summit in Russia, Tiger Range Countries committed to double the global tiger population by 2022. Bangladesh is among the 13 countries where tigers still roam in the wild. However, each country was given the flexibility to design a recovery plan at the summit.
In light of the second phase of the Bangladesh Tiger Action Plan continuing till 2027, Bangladesh has its own National Recovery Programme that ended last year.
“Our prime objective in the recovery plan was to stabilize the number of tigers since during that time the tiger population was in an alarming situation,” he said.
Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka TribuneAccording to the Tiger Census 2015 and 2018, the tiger population declined to only 106 and 114 tigers respectively in the Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans.
“Considering the last two surveys we fulfilled our primary target; now it's time to focus on increasing the number, '' he said while mentioning Bangladesh's upcoming National Tiger Recovery Programme.
Keeping in mind the Second Global Tiger Summit in Russia's Vladivostock, to be held on September 5, an expert team has been constituted to draw up a draft plan for the National Tiger Recovery Programme 2022-2034.
International Tiger Day is observed on July 29 every year to raise awareness about the conservation of tigers and to promote the protection of their natural habitats.
