Recovered tigress set for return to Sundarbans

The Royal Bengal Tigress was caught in a poacher’s trap in the Eastern Sundarbans is set to return to her natural habitat after undergoing five months of treatment.

The seriously injured tigress has now fully recovered, and the Forest Department plans to release her back into the Sundarbans by the end of June.

On January 3, the tigress was trapped in a snare set by deer poachers near the Sharkir Canal in the Chandpai Forest Range of the Eastern Sundarbans.

According to Forest Department sources, an expert rescue team rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident. The tigress was rescued on January 4 and taken to the Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Department’s rehabilitation centre in Khulna for treatment.

A five-member medical board was formed to oversee the treatment of the seriously injured animal.
Md. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Eastern Sundarbans, Bagerhat, said that during the rescue operation, officials found severe injuries on the tigress’s left leg.

An area measuring about three inches had suffered extensive damage to the skin and veins due to the rope snare. The wound had also become infected.

“The tigress received antibiotics, regular dressing, and intensive care. New tissue and hair have grown over the injured area. After five months of treatment and close monitoring, she has now fully recovered,” he said.

A meeting was held on May 21 involving tiger researchers, forest officials, wildlife experts, and other stakeholders to determine the tigress’s future.

Prof. M.A. Aziz of the Department of Zoology at Jahangirnagar University and a renowned wildlife expert who attended the meeting, told reporters that a tiger typically lives for 12 to 14 years and that the rescued tigress is estimated to be between nine and 10 years old.

“She should be released into her native habitat in the Sundarbans,” he said.
Prof. Aziz also recommended fitting the tigress with a satellite collar to monitor her movements after release. He noted that six tigers in the Indian part of the Sundarbans have previously been fitted with similar tracking devices.

Imran Ahmed, Conservator of Forests (CF) for the Khulna Region, said the tigress has regained her previous physical condition and is believed to be capable of hunting and feeding on her own.

“After her release, a satellite collar will be fitted around her neck with the assistance of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to monitor her movements in the Sundarbans. The collar will be removed after six months,” he said.

“If everything goes according to plan, a policy decision has been taken to release the tigress by the end of this month in the same area from where she was rescued,” the CF added.