Wildlife
Attractions
Tigers Sunderbans
is the largest estuarine delta in the world and the
biggest colony of the Royal Bengal Tigers. These evergreen
mangrove forests pulsate with myriad forms of life,
which hide during hide tide and the ebbing tide reveals
them on the glistening mud flats. The land is split
by numerous rivers and water channels all emptying into
the Bay of Bengal. It is believed that Bonbibi, the
goddess of the forest, protects the woodcutters, honey-collectors
and fishermen on their hazardous missions through the
forest. For, as the local saying goes, `here the tiger
is always watching you'.
Project Tiger Project
Tiger was implemented here in 1973 and later the Sunderbans
Tiger Reserve was demarcated over an area of 2,585-sq
km. The core area of 1,330 sq km has been declared a
national park and a world heritage site. The reserve
has a tiger population of 287(1984 census). The only
mangrove species, the tiger here has adapted well to
its habitat.
Reptiles
The Sunderbans provide
important habitat for a variety of reptiles including
river terrapin (Batagur baska E), Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys
olivacea E), estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus
E), monitor lizard (Varanus flavescens), water monitor
(Varanus salvator) and Indian python (Python molurus
V). The
only species of turtle known to nest in the Sunderbans
is the Olive Ridley but hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata)
has also been caught in fishermen's nets. The creeks
are spawning grounds for some 90 species of fish, 48
species of crabs and a large variety of molluscs.
Climate The
region has a tropical climate with hot summers and cold
winters. Maximum and minimum temperatures during the
summer are 42°C and 37°C respectively. In winters,
the maximum and minimum temperatures are 29°C and
9.2°C respectively. |
