UNB, Khulna:

With a focus on raising awareness about tiger conservation and the urgent threats these majestic animals face, such as habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict, World Tiger Day is being celebrated in the country like elsewhere on Monday.

International Tiger Day is observed to bringing attention to the dire circumstances affecting tigers, the largest and most recognisable big cats in the world.

These amazing creatures are in danger of going extinct due to poaching, illegal wildlife trafficking, and habitat loss.

To secure the survival of tigers, International Tiger Day aims to unite people, get public support, and advance sustainable projects. The purpose of the day is to maintain the planet’s biodiversity for future generations by drawing attention to the potential and difficulties associated with tiger protection.

The latest tiger census result was supposed to be published on the Global Tiger Day this year but it has been postponed as forest officials couldn’t complete the necessary work due to disruption in regular activities in the wake students’ protests and subsequent curfews.

The result is now expected to be announced next month.

According to the Forest Department, the census was conducted using camera trapping methods under the Sundarbans Tiger Conservation Project. This census was carried out from January to April of last year in Satkhira and Khulna ranges.

A similar survey was conducted in Chandpai and Sarankhola ranges earlier this year. Over a period of 40 days, two cameras were installed at 145 points in each range.

Moreover, tiger footprints were collected through canal surveys in the Sundarbans. The fieldwork for the census was completed about four months ago.

Dr Abu Naser Mohsin Hossain, Project Director of the Tiger Conservation Project and Divisional Officer of the Sundarbans Western Forest Department, said that some 7,500 photographs of tigers, including photo of same tiger multiple times, were obtained.

Therefore, a ‘unique ID’ was created for each tiger through scientific method. These photographs have been provided to experts for analysis, he informed.

He also said that the census data was initially scheduled to be released on this year’s World Tiger Day. However, due to the recent unrest and curfew, the work could not be completed and the findings will be announced next month, he added.

By using the camera trapping method in 2018, the forest department found the presence of the 114 tigers in the Sundarbans but this time the number will increase, they expected.