The Sundarbans, West Bengal’s world-famous mangrove forest and home to the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger, will be closed to tourists on December 11 and 12 as the forest department begins the much-awaited tiger census. According to official directives issued by the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve (STR), all forms of tourism — including boat rides, launches, and cruises — will be completely suspended during these two days. Even online bookings for the forest will remain disabled as the department focuses on collecting precise scientific data on the tiger population.
“We want the tiger count to be carried out with complete scientific accuracy,” said a senior forest department official, adding, “That’s why we have decided to suspend tourism for two days. All field staffs have received special training to ensure there are no errors during data collection. We are hopeful that this time the tiger numbers will show an increase.”
This year’s census will rely on state-of-the-art camera trap technology and digital data collection tools.
“A total of 1,484 camera traps will be installed across various zones of the Sundarbans, covering approximately 4,100 square kilometers. The cameras will remain active for over a month, capturing movements of tigers and their prey, after which the data will be analysed to determine the tiger population,” said the official.
In addition to tiger monitoring, the census will also include a survey of prey species such as deer, wild boar, and goats, to assess whether the ecological balance is being maintained. “As tiger numbers grow, their food supply must be sustained. The census will help us understand if the forest’s food chain is stable,” the official added.
For the first time, a dedicated mobile application will be used by field officers and forest workers to send photographs and real-time updates directly to a central database, ensuring greater transparency and efficiency in the process.
Officials noted that tourism activity and human presence could disturb wildlife and alter natural movement patterns, which is why complete closure was deemed essential. “Even minimal noise from boats can disrupt the normal behavior of tigers and other animals,” said an STR official. “This is a sensitive operation that requires total silence and undisturbed conditions.”
The 2022 tiger census, released in late 2024, recorded 101 tigers in the Sundarbans — an increase from 88 tigers in 2018. Of these, 80 were within the core Sundarbans Tiger Reserve and 21 in the adjoining South 24 Parganas division.
However, the temporary closure has stirred unease among local boat owners and tour operators, many of whom had bookings for those two days. The Sundarban Boat Owners’ Association confirmed that all tourists have been informed about the cancellations, and refunds are being processed.
“Of course, there will be financial losses,” admitted one operator. “But this is for the greater good. Protecting the forest and the tiger population matters more.”
The tiger census in the Sundarbans is typically conducted once every four years, though smaller surveys and area-based observations occur annually. The first phase of this year’s work will begin in mid-December, marking another step toward understanding and preserving one of the world’s most vital ecosystems.
For two days, the restless waters of the Sundarbans will fall silent — not for tourists, but for the tigers who rule them.
Also read: Gold trader murdered in Kolkata; BDO’s name surfaces
Follow us
