Local Communities at the Heart
By Salina Sultana (Dhaka Bureau)
Image created with the support of ai
World Tiger Day was observed with the theme, ‘Let’s all be aware, let’s conserve tigers.’ Initiated at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit in Russia in 2010, the primary objective of this global movement is to protect the natural habitat of this endangered apex predator and maintain the balance of the food chain and ecosystem. International organizations emphasize that tiger conservation is not merely a struggle to save a single species, but a vital prerequisite for safeguarding forest ecosystems, biodiversity, and human civilization as a whole.
According to data from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Global Tiger Forum (GTF), the global wild tiger population, which had plummeted to a critical 3,200 in 2010, has now risen to approximately 5,500 to 5,700. The vast majority of wild tigers inhabit 10 to 13 Asian nations, with India hosting nearly 70% to 75% of the total population. While numbers have shown positive growth in South Asia (India, Nepal, and Bangladesh), the status in Vietnam and Cambodia remains alarming, with tigers becoming locally extinct in many areas.
Bangladesh has also witnessed a steady rise in its tiger population within the Sundarbans. According to Forest Department data and camera-trapping surveys, the Sundarbans hosted 106 tigers in 2015, which increased to 114 in 2018, and reached 125 in the latest census conducted in 2024. Additionally, around 65 tigers are currently housed in national and regional zoos across the country.
However, the Bangladesh Forest Department informed the International Press Agency- Pressenza that the tiger population in the Sundarbans increased by 19 in the nine years between 2015 and 2024.
Highlighting the tiger as a ‘keystone species’ and the natural guardian of the Sundarbans, Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Abdul Awal Mintu stated, ‘The government is committed to protecting the tigers of the Sundarbans and their habitats. A zero-tolerance policy is being enforced against trafficking tigers and their parts.’
Financial rewards ranging from BDT 25,000 to 50,000 have also been announced for informants providing credible intelligence on wildlife crimes. Furthermore, a 10-member commission was recently formed to protect safe habitats and resolve human-wildlife conflicts.
State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam added that protected sanctuary areas within the Sundarbans have been expanded. To support the wildlife, 80 freshwater ponds have been excavated, and 20 earthen mounds have been built for resting. Nylon net fencing has been installed along forest borders to prevent tigers from straying into human settlements. Modern technology-driven measures, including Smart Patrols, drone surveillance, and the active involvement of Village Tiger Response Teams (VTRT), have significantly curtailed tiger poaching and human-tiger conflicts.
Despite these achievements, international conservation bodies like the IUCN warn of ongoing threats. Deforestation, infrastructure development, and agricultural expansion have reduced historical tiger habitats to just 7%. Climate change, rising salinity, riverbank erosion, and illegal poaching continue to pose grave dangers.
In light of these challenges, the official theme for International Tiger Day 2026 has been declared- ‘Securing the Future of Tigers with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities at the Heart.’ Global experts and policymakers agree that sustainable conservation is impossible without the active involvement of local and indigenous communities living near tiger habitats. Protecting the Earth and preserving its ecosystems ultimately depend on fostering safe coexistence between humans and wildlife.
Salina Sultana : Senior Journalist and Contributor, Pressenza- Dhaka Bureau.
