NATIONAL TIGER RECOVERY
PROGRAMME OF BANGLADESH
Dr. Tapan Kumar Dey
Conservator of Forests, Wildlife Conservation Circle,
Forest Department
Mrs. Jahan Ara Begum
Deputy Sectretary, MoEF, Govt. of Bangladesh.
Over View of Tiger Status In Bangladesh:
• Tiger lived in Bangladesh for centuries, but at present it had become endangered in the country.
It has been reported that tiger were present in major district of the country in 1930s.
• Now, habitat degradation, fragmentation, monoculture, encroachment, forest clearing, legal
hunting, illegal poaching has caused the tiger habitat and number reduced to a minimum state.
• The Sundarban (6017 sq. km) is the only habitat where the tigers are still thriving in
Bangladesh.
• The Sundarban is densely covered by mangrove forests, and is one of the largest reserves for
the wild tiger.
• Sundarban has got three wildlife sanctuaries (1,39,000 hectares) which is 23% of the total area
of the forests.
• The three wildlife sanctuaries of Sundarban is declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO in
1997.
• The last population census indicates tiger population in Bangladesh Sundarban varies form 400450.
Wild Tiger Population Survey in Sundarban, Bangladesh.
Year
Organization/ Writer
Estimated number
Estimation method
1975
Hendrichs
350
Interview with forest
department and local
people*
1971
Forest Department
320
-
1982
Forest Department,
Zoology Department, DU
450
Pugmark Method*
1992
Forest Department
359
Interview with the forest
worker*
1993
Dr. K. M. Tamang
362
Pugmark Method*
2004
Forest Department and
United Nation
Development Program
(UNDP)
440
(Male-121, Female-298
and Calf-21)
Pugmark Method**
Present Prey Base Status
• The main prey base of tiger is Spotted Deer (Axis axis) and
occasionally they prey on Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), Barking Deer
(Muntiacus muntjak) and Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta)
etc.
• The systematic survey of Spotted Deer population was done in
2000-2002 using there different census methods and
population size was 83,000 (Dey, T.k. 2005).
• The population density varies with the vegetation types. The
mean density of Spotted Deer was lowest (3 sq. km.) in Pure
Sundri forest of north-eastern side of the Sundarban and
highest was in the Keora-Gewa- open grass land in the southeastern part of the forest.
Tiger-Human Conflict
•Bangladesh also suffer high level of Tiger-Human
Conflict and on an average 25-40 peoples are killed by
the tiger every year.
• On an average 2-3 tigers (stray-tiger) killed by the
local people per year. Human killing incidences are
more is the north-western side of the forests.
• Due to human-killing & livestock depredation
incidence, killing of stray tigers by affected local
communities in increasing.
• Tigers are directly threatened by poaching to supply
the increasing demand for tiger products.
Poaching and Degradation
• Poaching of prey further reduces the capacity of the
forest to support tigers, and unsustainable forest use and
climate change threaten to reduce the area in which tigers
can live.
• There are many threats to the Sundarban forest and
some of these threats are sea label rise, fresh water flow,
industrial pollution and polder construction.
• Other threats are non-timber forest products collection,
tree diseases, illegal timber felling, planning of mineral &
gas extraction etc.
Response of Bangladesh for Implementation of
Tigers Action Plan
Bangladesh Forest Department with collaboration of Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh
(WTB) has developed a national tiger action plan (2009-2017) to lay out the
conservation actions that need to be undertaken in order to save tigers and their
forests.
Vision And Goals of BTAP
Vision
Protected tiger landscapes in Bangladesh, where wild tigers thrive at optimum
carrying capacities* and which continue to provide essential ecological
services to mankind.
Goals of BTAP
Goals to address threats
• Increase or stabilise the Sundarbans tiger population
• Maintain sufficient prey base to support the Sundarbans tiger population
• Maintain sufficient habitat to support the Sundarbans tiger and prey
populations
• Assess the viability of tiger populations in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Goals to address challenges
• Improve conservation capacity in the FD and mainstream tiger
conservation into the GoB's development agenda
• Improve law enforcement to ensure protection of tiger, prey, and habitat
• Build capacity to implement awareness and education programmes
• Build capacity to conduct tiger conservation research and monitoring
• Encourage collaboration to support the FD in the implementation of the
BTAP
Projects in Sundarban under Implementation
- Management support to Sundarbans Reserve Forests
- Development and Rehabilitation of Communication Systems in Sundarbans
- Rehabilitation and Development of Infrastructure in Sundarbans
Projects in pipeline at Sundarban
- Integrated Protected Area Co-management (IPAC) Project
- Sundarban Environmental and Livelihood Security (SEALS) Project
- Biodiversity and Ecotourism Development in Bangladesh
Achievements During the Years 2009 & 2010
• Development and approval of Bangladesh Tiger Action Plan (2009-2017) with the
collaboration of Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh(WTB).
• Formation and training of Village Tiger Response Team surrounding communities of
SRF.
• Formation of FD Tiger Response Team in collaboration with WTB.
• Training of FD staffs for immobilization, capture and release of strayed out tiger with
the collaboration of WTB.
• Conducted tiger track survey (khal survey method) and prey population survey by
WTB.
• Formation of co-management council and committee for the management of SRF.
• Formulation of compensation policy for killing or permanent disability of human by
Tiger has been done.
• Wildlife Act-2010 is in the final stage.
•
A bilateral Protocol between Bangladesh and India for Tiger conservation in Sundarban is waiting
for signature.
•
Survey of presence of tiger in Chittagong Hill Tracts is going on with the collaboration of Wildlife
Trust of Bangladesh(WTB).
•
To celebrate the Tiger Day in Bangladesh on 29 July, a comprehensive programme is taken in Dhaka
and Khulna.
•
One Deputy Conservator of Forests and one Assistant Conservator of Forests have attended
“Global Tiger Initiative (GTI) CDN Conservationist Practitioners Training Programme” in India (36
days) & USA (15 days).
•
Three high officials of Forest Department and MoEF have attended “Senior Executive Leadership
Training on Tiger Conservation” in USA (7 days) funded by GTI.
•
Several delegates of Forest Department have attended in GTI & GTF programmes in Nepal and
Indonesia.
•
One Assistant Conservator of Forests is on higher training on tiger conservation (MS Programme)
supported by US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Pledges of Bangladesh for Tiger Conservation
Long Term:
Stabilize or marginally increase the current tiger population by
reducing key threats to tigers, prey and habitat – by 2022, a
demographically stable tiger population close to carrying capacity
under conservation management in Bangladesh Sunderbans ecosystem.
International and Regional:
• A protocol regarding trans boundary issue and system for effective crossborder collaboration with India to curb poaching, smuggling and trade in
wildlife waiting for the approval of the cabinet.
• Endorse GTRP and Tiger Summit Declaration.
• Commit to global and regional tiger conservation goals.
National:
Policy:
• A national wildlife conservation policy has been developed which is
under the approval of Ministry of Environment and Forests.
• Animal Conservation Act 2010 is waiting for the approval of the
Parliament.
• Mainstream conservation into development and shift production
forestry into conservation of valuable Sunderbans ecosystem.
• Several development projects will be taken aiming Tiger Conservation.
• Establishing a dedicated wildlife institution for conservation and
management of wildlife resources.
• Wildlife Crime Control Unit. (WCCU) is under the process of approval.
• New Wildlife Compensation Policy for tiger victims and for the dead has
been notified.
• Adoption of co-management policy is awaiting approval.
• Celebration of Global Tiger Day on 29th July as per Hua Hin Declaration
has been finalized.
Capacity:
- To develop capacity in the Forest Department for effective wildlife and habitat
conservation in the Sunderbans, a new wildlife wing will be developed and in future a
separate Wildlife Department will be established.
- Support political transition from production forestry to conservation objectives.
- Support all capacity building training programs of GTI and GTF.
Managerial:
•
To implement Bangladesh Tiger Action Plan.
•
To add value to existing and provide alternative livelihoods to reduce dependency of local residents on forest
resources.
•
Empower local communities in decision-making through co-management.
•
To reduce tiger-human conflicts through new Wildlife Compensation Policy.
•
Curb tiger and prey poaching.
•
Formation of Forest Department Tiger Response Team and the Village Tiger Response Team have been done.
•
Tiger and prey abundance survey is continuing as per Bangladesh Tiger Action Plan in collaboration with the
Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh.
Major Areas for International Support:
•
Financial support to implement NTRP.
•
Technical assistance for Tiger Population Census and Monitoring.
•
Capacity Building for related professionals.
•
Alternative income generations and livelihood support to the local community
and Sunderban User Group (SUG).
•
Assistance in Regional Tiger Conservation Program.
•
Strengthening of wildlife administration and management.
•
Establishment of Wildlife Crime Control Unit (WCCU).
Suggestions for enhancing Global Tiger
Recovery Program:
• Integration between GO and NGO Tiger
Conservation programs.
•Financial and technical support to the NTRP.
•Recognition of Global Tiger Day by UN (29th
July).
•Recognition of GTF and their activities.
•Implementation of regional projects.
Thank you.