Dhaka: Bangladesh has more than doubled the size of the wildlife sanctuary in the world’s largest mangrove forest to try to protect endangered Bengal tigers whose numbers have fallen sharply, officials said on Tuesday.
More than half, or 52 per cent, of the 6,017 square kilometres (2,325 square miles) Sundarbans — one of the largest habitats of the tigers — has been declared a sanctuary this week, said the government’s chief forest conservator Shafiul Alam.
The Sundarbans, which also straddles parts of eastern India, is home to some rare animals including the Irrawaddy dolphins and the Bengal tigers, both declared endangered because of poaching and a loss of their habitat.
Previously the wildlife sanctuary was limited to 23 per cent of the forest cover, and villagers and tourists had unrestricted access to the rest of the mangrove forest.
A 2015 survey found a dramatic decline in the numbers of the Bengal tiger — 106 tigers, down from 440 during a 2004 count.
Monirul Khan, a tiger expert and zoology professor at Jahangirnagar University, said the decision would “surely help” increase the number of wild cats.
“This is a law. We appreciate it. If it’s enforced effectively, I’m hopeful it will help the animals, especially the tigers, to grow in numbers,” Khan said.
Amir Hossain, head of the government’s Tiger Monitoring Project, said the expanded sanctuary “will be a safe roaming and breeding haven for the tigers”.
“People’s movement in the extended sanctuary will be restricted,” he said. The nearly 350,000 locals who depend on the Sundarbans to collect fish, honey and logs will not be allowed to enter it, he said.
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