The government re-excavated about 80 ponds in the Sundarbans, the country’s lone natural habitat for the Bengal Tiger, to meet the demand of freshwater for wildlife.

Divisional Forest Officer (Sundarbans West Division) and director of tiger conservation project Director Abu Naser Mohsin confirmed the matter.

He said: “We have re-excavated about 80 ponds in the Sundarbans so that wild animals, including tigers, do not face any trouble in finding sweet water,” 

In March 2022, the Bangladesh Forest Department initiated a three-year “Sundarbans Tiger Conservation Project” to conserve the Bengal tigers in the mangrove forest. As part of the project, the Forest Department restored the freshwater sources in the Sundarbans.

Mohsin said these ponds are yet to completely fill up with water as there are no enough rains right now. But, once monsoon will start, the ponds will be poured with rainwater, allowing wild animals to have fresh water easily from those reservoirs,” he said.
      
The Sundarbans is the only mangrove forest in the world that supports tigers’ habitat. But its ecosystem continues to degrade due to frequent natural disasters and human intervention as well.

BDST: 1920 HRS, JUNE 10, 2023
MN/SMS