Big Cat 101: Royal Bengal Tigers Score A Century as Population Rises in Sundarbans
So the total number of these tigers in Bengal is now 102. Aside from the 101 in the Sundarbans, there is one in the Buxa Tiger Reserve in north Bengal. (Representational image)
Some years back, the animal was facing a crisis due to poaching. But things have changed because of strict monitoring by the West Bengal forest department
The population of Royal Bengal Tigers in the Sundarbans, which was down to 74 in 2010, has now crossed the century mark and reached 101, West Bengal’s forest minister Birbaha Hansda informed the state assembly this week.
So the total number of these tigers in Bengal is now 102. Aside from the 101 in the Sundarbans, there is one in the Buxa Tiger Reserve in north Bengal.
According to the data available, the number was 74 in 2010, rose to 76 in 2014, was 88 by 2018, and now is 101.
“We are actually concentrating more on tiger habitat because this is important. We are trying to build an atmosphere where both tigers and humans can stay without confronting each other’s territory,” said the minister.
The Royal Bengal Tiger represents the beauty as well as the pride of the state. Some years back, the big cat was facing a crisis due to poaching. But things have changed because of strict monitoring by the forest department.
Debal Ray, chief wildlife warden of West Bengal forest department, told News18, “Basically we worked on stopping poaching and we have secured their habitat. We have around 21 patrolling stations which are very effective. We have also stopped border poaching. Also, there are 26 villages in the northern part of the Sundarbans delta. They are also working with us closely in securing the population of tigers.”
