The tiger population in the Sunderbans facing existential threat because of food shortage is highly worrying. Global Tiger Day reminds all of the urgent need to protect tigers and their habitats. A target was set by the world leaders from 13 tiger range countries at the 2010 Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit to double the wild tiger population. To honour our pledge to conserve tigers in the country, we need to engage the communities around the tiger habitats. The survival of tigers in the Sunderbans is equally dependent on the availability of food and the conservation of the ecosystem. People and livestock are often killed or injured by tigers and tigers are also killed at the hands of humans in such conflicts. A lack of effective conservation measures on part of the government negatively impacts the forest ecosystem and disrupts the natural food chain. The government must, therefore, heed the recommendations and act on them immediately. All stakeholders involved must work together to protect the tigers and other wildlife of the Sunderbans.
Bangladesh Sundarbans is the last stronghold for country’s only tiger population. Tigers are the guardians of the Sundarbans and the communities around the Sundarbans are the guardians of the tigers there. WildTeam with the support from the Forest Department could successfully engage the communities to conserve tigers in the Sundarbans – once hunters turned protectors, thus building a social capital to protect the national animal.
Today there are 340 Village Tiger Response Team (VTRT) members in 49 teams to address stray tiger incidents around the 76 villages of the Sundarbans. There are 55 “BaghBandhu” (friends of tigers) and 50 “TigerScouts”, who are the advocates of tiger conservation in the Sundarbans. WildTeam’s tiger ambulance remains in the river for 24 hours to retrieve tiger victims (dead or wounded) from inside the Sundarbans, with the support from the Forest Department. WildTeam with the support from ITHCP worked on three villages adjacent to the Sundarbans and declared these as Tiger Tolerant Villages.
For this year’s Tiger Day, on July 29, WildTeam has spearheaded Global Tiger Day activities to amplify awareness about the fragile status of tiger population among the children living around the Sundarbans. This programme has been arranged under IUCN’s Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme (ITHCP), at WildTeam Conservation Biology Centre at Joymoni in the Sundarbans, which aims not only to protect tiger species and their prey from various threats, but to also preserve their habitats and support local communities living in tiger landscapes. Thanks are due to funding from the German Cooperation via KfW Development Bank.
WildTeam celebrations include drawing competitions, storytelling and quizzes. The video-story titled The Guardians of the Forest was written by WildTeam’s friend, Ms Sharon Ngoi, and illustrated by her daughter, Faith Chan. Sharon recently visited WildTeam Conservation Biology Centre at Joymoni in the Sundarbans with her husband, Mr Jenn Jong Yee. She wrote this story from her Sundarbans experience. The children had the opportunity to visit the exhibits of the Sundarban Museum and Interpretation Centre of WildTeam, situated at Joymoni, Chandpai, Mongla, Bagerhat. This museum and interpretation centre has been built under IUCN’s Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme (ITHCP), funded by the German Cooperation via KfW Development Bank. WildTeam is a grantee of ITHCP.
Conservation education is crucial for the success of Global Tiger Day. WildTeam’s event educated and inspired the children and youth, through art competitions, exhibitions, and storytelling. At the end of the programme the participants organised a cultural programme, where they pledged: #SayNoToDeerMeat, and #SayNoToPoisonFishing. Community leaders, Forest Department officials, teachers and WildTeam team were present in the programme. Through this programme, Global Tiger Day turned into more than just a day of celebration – it inoculated values of tiger conservation among these children and youth, who are our future tiger conservation ambassadors.
