THE TIGERS
OF THE SUNDARBANS

As pure carnivores, these tigers balance mammal species populations, which then balance plant species populations, allowing the mangrove trees to become the dominant vegetation in this flourishing delta.

Without Royal Bengal tigers, as they are sometimes called in this region, this tropical coastal swamp would not stretch the 140,000 hectares it does today.

Yet, poaching and extreme habitat loss have made the Sundarbans lose 95% of its historic tiger population. Through conservation efforts throughout India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, it is reported that the number of wild tigers is now up to 3,890 individuals from just 2,000 recorded in the 2000s.