Dhaka, July 29 (V7N) – World Tiger Day 2025 is being observed today (Tuesday) in Bangladesh with the slogan "Increasing tiger numbers, prosperity of Sundarbans", aiming to raise awareness about tiger conservation and highlight the importance of protecting their natural habitat.

A discussion program has been organized at Haimanti Auditorium in the Forest Building, Dhaka, to mark the occasion. The event is presided over by Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Chief Conservator of Forests, while Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, is attending as the chief guest. Academics and wildlife experts from various university zoology departments are also present.

Gradual Recovery of Tiger Population

According to the 2024 tiger survey, the number of tigers in the Bangladeshi Sundarbans now stands at 125, a gradual rise from previous years:

  • 106 tigers (2015)

  • 114 tigers (2018)

  • 125 tigers (2024)

However, this is still a significant drop from earlier estimates. In 2004, the number of tigers was believed to be 440, including 21 cubs. A 2009 survey estimated 400–450 tigers, but the 2013–2015 survey drastically reduced that figure to just 106, based on more advanced monitoring techniques.

The most recent survey (January 2023 – March 2024) was the most extensive to date:

  • 1,210 cameras were deployed across 605 grids in the Sundarbans over 318 days

  • Over 1 million images and videos were analyzed

  • 7,297 images of individual tigers were identified

  • International experts from India, New Zealand, and the United States validated the data

  • The survey cost around 34 million taka

Global Background

World Tiger Day is observed every July 29 to promote global awareness of tiger conservation. It was first established at the St. Petersburg Tiger Summit in 2010, where countries pledged to double tiger numbers by 2022 under the Global Tiger Recovery Program.

As Bangladesh continues to take steps toward that goal, conservationists emphasize that sustainable efforts must be maintained to protect the Sundarbans' ecosystem — the last stronghold of the Royal Bengal Tiger in the country.

END/RH/AJ