Poaching and food shortage threaten Sundarbans tigers

Khulna Correspondent:

Tiger movement has increased noticeably in the Sharankhola and Chandpai ranges of the Sundarbans, raising cautious optimism among conservationists. Yet experts warn that a sharp decline in prey especially spotted deer is creating a serious ecological imbalance in the world’s largest mangrove forest.

Official surveys show the tiger population has risen by 11 in six years. While signs of 114 tigers were recorded in 2018, the latest census in 2024 found evidence of 125.

Despite this progress, wildlife specialists say rampant poaching has triggered an acute food shortage. Tigers rely on deer for about 80 percent of their diet, with the remaining 20 percent coming from wild boar, jungle cats and monkeys. Illegal hunting peaks during new and full moon nights, when poachers use traps and sedatives deep inside the forest.

As prey availability declines across the Chandpai, Sharankhola, Satkhira and Khulna ranges, tigers are increasingly straying across rivers and canals toward human settlements. Experts note that an adult tiger needs at least 50-60 kilograms of meat per week to survive.

According to a 2023 survey cited in Sundarbans, the spotted deer population stands at 131,604. However, forest department records reveal extensive poaching. Between May and December last year, the Sundarbans East Division recovered more than 61,000 traps, while the West Division seized over 3,100 feet of trapping materials in the past two years. Authorities also recovered 1,148 kilograms of deer meat, filing 72 cases against 192 accused.