Sundarbans tiger census kicks off with 1,484 camera traps

A large-scale tiger census has begun in the Sundarbans, with forest officials deploying 1,484 camera traps across the mangrove delta to get an accurate picture of the big cat population. The operation started on November 25 and will run for five days, marking one of the most extensive monitoring exercises in the region.

A senior forest official said the 2022 tiger census had recorded more than 100 tigers in the Indian part of the Sundarbans. This year’s survey aims to verify and update those figures using improved technology and wider coverage.

The camera-trap zone spans the entire Sundarbans Tiger Reserve, the Sajnekhali Wildlife Sanctuary, and tiger habitats across South 24-Parganas including Raidighi, Ramganga, and the Matla range. To ensure round-the-clock monitoring, all-weather night-vision cameras have been placed at strategic locations.

Although the main exercise ends on November 30, the cameras will remain active for over a month, and the collected footage will be retrieved in the second week of January 2026. The Sundarbans covers nearly 4,000 sq km on the Indian side, spread across the tiger reserve and adjoining areas of the South 24 Parganas forest division.

Over 200 trained forest personnel are engaged in this census, ensuring the safety of both wildlife and team members during the operation.

The second phase of the survey is scheduled for mid-December, when pug marks of tigers will be analysed using a dedicated app to support the camera-based findings. The results are expected to shape future conservation strategies in the world’s only mangrove tiger habitat.