Bangladesh, India need trans-boundary collaboration for Bengal tiger conservation

Bangladesh needs trans-boundary collaboration with India for the conservation of Bengal Tiger as it has a shared tiger and leopard habitat with India.

“Bangladesh has a shared tiger and leopard habitat with India, so triggering the trans-boundary collaboration with India is an important tool for the conservation of tiger and leopard in Bangladesh,” environment minister Md Shahab Uddin said.

The Environment Minister said this on the occasion of the International Conference on Tiger Conservation, organised as part of 50 years of Project Tiger held on Sunday Evening at Mysuru University in Mysuru, Karnataka, India.

Indian Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi inaugurated the event, according to the environment ministry in a statement on Monday.

Environment minister said, “Considering the conservation importance of seven big cat species on earth and two critically endangered big cat species in Bangladesh, we in principle support the creation of the International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA) with a membership of the range of countries harbouring these species.”

The Bangladesh government is working with the determination to double the number of tigers by achieving zero poaching targets with the active participation of the local community and the wild tiger numbers are starting to tick upward, according to the ministry.

Adoption of a new clause in the national constitution to protect and improve biodiversity, wetlands, forests and wildlife; Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012 has the provision of two to seven years imprisonment and Tk 1.0 million fine for tiger poachers, are some of the government initiatives, said the minister.

The Bangladesh government is implementing the National Tiger Recovery Program (2022 to 2034) and the second-generation Bangladesh Tiger Action Plan (2018-2027).

It includes tiger survey, genetic study, SMART patrolling and monitoring by drone inside the Sundarbans, capacity building programmes for frontline staff of the Forest Department as well as local community to ensure protection & conservation of the Sundarbans and Bengal tiger.

The minister said, a protocol was signed between Bangladesh and India for strengthening collaboration for the Conservation of Royal Bengal Tiger of the Sundarbans in 2011.

Mr Shahab Uddin said to mitigate tiger human conflicts, “our government has engaged the local community in tiger conservation activities by forming a Village Tiger Response Team, Co-management Committee and Community Petrol Group.”

Wildlife Victim Compensation Rules, 2021 has the provision to give compensation up to Tk 300,000 for persons killed by Tiger.

Wildlife Crime Control Unit has been established under the Forest Department to combat illegal wildlife trade. To strengthen the capacity of wildlife education, research and training, Sheikh Kamal Wildlife Center has been established which is working as a centre of excellence.

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi launched the International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA) which will focus on protection and conservation of seven major big cats of the world such as tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar, and cheetah in collaboration with concerned countries.

The environment and forest ministers of the range of countries harbouring these species were present on the occasion.

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