Tiger census in Sundarbans starts

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UNB, Khulna :
The second phase of the tiger census project using camera trapping method will begin in Sundarbans today (Tuesday).
At least two infrared cameras will be installed in each of 132 identified spots within about 3,000 sq km area in Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans to capture tigers’ photos for 40 days without any recess.
Divisional Forest Officer Zahidul Kabir said a total of 78 infrared cameras will be used in the 132 identified spots in phases in the tiger census that will be conducted till June next year.
He said, the second phase of census is going to kick off through instalment of infrared cameras at Nilkamal area of Hiron Point in the Sundarbans today.
A team of 30 trained workers will participate in the second phase of the tiger census, Kabir, also Coordinator of Camera Trapping Project added.
In the first phase of the Bangladesh-India joint tiger census project, completed in April this year beginning November 1, 2013, a total
of 89 infrared cameras were used to capture tigers’ photos within a 3,000 sq km area in Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans.
However, the result of the first phase of the census was not made public yet.
The project is being implemented with financial assistance from the World Bank.
A survey of 2004 showed that the total number of Bengal Tigers in Bangladesh part was 440. The UNDP conducted the census using pugmarks (footprints).
For the survey conducted in this April, a team of Wildlife Institute of India trained forest staff on setting cameras in the forest.
The world’s largest mangrove Sundarbans is the only abode of Royal Bengal Tigers. But the Sunderban’s Royal Bengal Tiger is fast becoming extinct.
Some 60 percent of Sundarbans, a UNESCO World Heritage Site is in Bangladesh with the remainder in India.
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