A significant scientific initiative to count the majestic Royal Bengal Tigers has officially commenced in the world's largest mangrove forest. The comprehensive camera trap census, which began on November 26, 2025, represents one of the most extensive wildlife monitoring exercises in the Sundarbans region.
Extensive Survey Area Coverage
The current tiger population assessment covers an impressive geographical spread across the delta region. The entire Sundarbans Tiger Reserve forms the core of this census operation, along with the protected Sajnekhali Wildlife Sanctuary. Beyond these protected zones, the survey extends to tiger habitats in South 24-Parganas district, specifically including Raidighi, Ramganga, and the Matla range.
This comprehensive approach ensures that both protected and adjacent forest areas are monitored, providing a complete picture of the tiger population distribution across the Sundarbans ecosystem. The inclusion of these peripheral zones is particularly important for understanding tiger movement patterns and human-wildlife conflict dynamics.
Advanced Monitoring Methodology
The census employs state-of-the-art camera trapping technology, which has become the gold standard for tiger population estimation worldwide. These motion-activated cameras are strategically placed across the survey area, capturing images of tigers as they move through their territories. Each tiger's unique stripe pattern acts as a natural fingerprint, allowing researchers to identify individuals and avoid double-counting.
The timing of the census in late November 2025 coincides with favorable weather conditions in the region. The receding monsoon waters and cooler temperatures make field operations more feasible while also increasing animal movement, thereby improving capture rates.
Conservation Implications and Future Protection
The data gathered from this extensive survey will play a crucial role in shaping future conservation strategies for the Bengal tiger. Accurate population numbers help wildlife authorities assess the effectiveness of existing protection measures and identify areas requiring additional intervention.
The previous census data has been instrumental in tracking population trends and understanding the challenges facing Sundarbans tigers, including climate change impacts, habitat fragmentation, and prey availability issues. The results of this 2025 survey will provide valuable insights into how these magnificent predators are adapting to changing environmental conditions in one of the world's most unique ecosystems.
Forest department officials and wildlife researchers are working in coordination to ensure the census proceeds smoothly, with results expected to be compiled and announced in the coming months following thorough data analysis.
