Why is it in the News?

The annual tiger census in West Bengal’s Sundarbans is scheduled to commence on November 27.

About Sundarbans Tiger Reserve (STR):

• Sundarbans Tiger Reserve (STR) is situated in the coastal districts of West Bengal, i.e. South 24- -Parganas and part in North 24-Parganas.
• It lies at the southernmost extremity of the lower Gangetic delta bordering the Bay of Bengal.
• It is one of the first nine Tiger Reserves declared under the Project Tiger scheme in the year 1973.
• It is the only mangrove forest throughout the world (besides Bangladesh) to harbour a significant tiger population.
• Borders: The Sundarbans Tiger Reserve is bound on the east by the international boundary with Bangladesh formed by the rivers Harinbhanga, Raimangal, and Kalindi.
• On the south lies the Bay of Bengal.
• The western border is formed by the river Matla, which acts as a common boundary with the territorial Forest Division of South 24- Parganas.
• Towards the northwest, the area is bound by rivers Bidya and Gomdi.
• The Sundarban Tiger Reserve is a part of the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve.
• It harbours significant populations of the river terrapin (Batagur baska), which was once believed to be extinct.
• It is the nesting ground for marine turtles like Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), and Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata).
• Flora: These comprise true mangroves or major elements, minor elements of mangroves or/and mangrove associates, shrubs, non-halophytic non-mangrove associates, halophytic herbs, shrubs, weeds, epiphytes, and parasitic plants.
• Fauna: It is to a large number of endangered and globally threatened species like the tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrina), and estuarine crocodile (Crocodilus porosus), Gangetic (Platanista gangetica) and Irrawaddy Dolphin (Oracella brevirostris), king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), water monitor lizard (Varanus salvator), etc.