Only 189 tigers left in Bangladesh: says Tuku

Bangladesh currently has only 189 tigers, leaving the species at serious risk of extinction, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku said on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters after a rally at Bangladesh National Zoo marking Global Tiger Day, Tuku said the Sundarbans, the country’s only natural habitat for tigers, is home to 124 tigers, while zoos across the country hold the remaining 65.

He said the global tiger population has declined sharply from around 100,000 a century ago to about 5,000 today, highlighting the growing threat to the species.

“Tigers are one of the most important wildlife species in the world and an indispensable part of biodiversity,” Tuku said, stressing the need to raise public awareness and promote conservation efforts among the younger generation.

He warned that the species would face a deeper crisis unless effective measures are taken immediately to protect their habitats and ensure their survival.

The state minister said tigers are a national asset and the government would continue taking necessary steps for their conservation.

Responding to questions about funding and transparency in tiger census activities, Tuku said the Forest Department, rather than the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, conducts tiger counts through its own process.

He later inaugurated a souvenir shop at Bangla-desh National Zoo.