Why in the News?
The proposal to expand the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve by 1,100 sq km has received clearance from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and awaits approval from National Board for Wildlife (NBWL).
About Sundarbans Tiger Reserve (STR):
- Location: Situated in South and North 24-Parganas districts, West Bengal; lies at the southern tip of the Gangetic Delta.
- Area: Presently 2,585.89 sq km; expansion to 3,629.57 sq km under proposal.
- Status: Notified as a Tiger Reserve, National Park, Biosphere Reserve; part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Unique Feature: World’s only mangrove forest with a viable tiger population.
- Tiger Count: Over 100 tigers – 80 in core area, 21 in adjoining forests.
- Landscape: Interconnected estuaries, tidal creeks, and 105 mangrove-covered islands.
- Flora: Dominated by mangrove species like Avicennia, Rhizophora, Heritiera.
- Fauna: Includes Royal Bengal Tigers, Fishing Cats, Estuarine Crocodiles, Irrawaddy Dolphins, King Cobras, and endangered reptiles and birds.
- Boundaries:
- East: Bangladesh border (Raimangal, Harinbhanga rivers)
- South: Bay of Bengal
- North/West: Matla, Bidya, Gomdi Rivers
Back2Basics: Tiger Reserves in India
Tiger Reserve Landscape in India (as of 2025):
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| [UPSC 2020] Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat”?”
Options: (a) Corbett (b) Ranthambore (c) Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam* (d) Sunderbans |
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