Cyclone Remal floods Sundarbans, wildlife at risk

Large areas of the Sundarbans forest have been flooded by a high tide driven by Cyclone Remal, putting wildlife at risk, Forest Conservator for Khulna Region Mihir Kumar Do said on Sunday.

The tidal surge, starting around noon, inundated over a hundred freshwater ponds that provide drinking water for forest animals and residents, Prothom Alo reported, quoting Mr Do.

“The cyclone caused water levels in all the Sundarbans rivers to rise by 5 to 8 feet in some places,” the Khulna region forest conservator was also quoted by the daily as saying. Most areas of the eastern and western Sundarbans have reportedly been submerged.

One of the largest mangrove forests in the world, the Sundarbans, spread across parts of both Bangladesh and India, has a long history of protecting Bangladesh from severe cyclone damage.

In November 2007, Cyclone Sidr struck the coast, resulting in around 3,500 deaths.

However, the Sundarbans shielded many others, though it suffered extensive damage to its flora and fauna.

The mangrove forest played a similar protective role in 2019 and 2021.

Cyclone Bulbul in 2019 claimed 24 lives, and Cyclone Yaas in 2021 resulted in seven deaths, but the impact would have been worse without the Sundarbans' buffer.

In November 2023, Cyclone Midhili crossed the coast near Khepupara, damaging trees and crops and killing nine people.

Once again, the Sundarbans bore the brunt of the storm's force.

Now, with Cyclone Remal, the Sundarbans is taking the hit again, facing extensive flooding and putting wildlife at risk.