Bangladesh want to set more tourist spot in Sundarban

The forest department sent a proposal to the government for the establishment five tourist spots in the Sundarban, world's largest mangrove forest. While talking to the news agency, tourists visiting the forest said steps should be taken to make the tourist spots in Sundarban more attractive. Sundarban [east zone] DFO Mihir Kumar said they have sent the proposal to higher authorities to set up tourist spots in Chandpai, Harbaria, Sharankhola, Kalagachhia and Munshiganj. Named after the dominant mangrove species Heritiera fomes, locally known as Sundari, the Sundarban eco-region is the world's largest mangrove ecosystem covering 20,400 square kilometres across southern Bangladesh and Indian state of West Bengal. This is the only mangrove eco-region that harbours the Indo-Pacific region's largest predator, the Royal Bengal Tiger. Thousands of tourists visit the world's largest mangrove forest every year especially from November to January to enjoy the natural beauty of the forests. Unlike in other habitats, tigers in Sunderban live and swim around the mangrove islands, where they hunt scarce prey such as chitra deer [ Cervus axis], barking deer [Muntiacus muntjak], wild pig [Susscrofa], and even macaques. As per the census conducted in 2004, there are 440 royal Bengal Tigers, 1.5 lakh deer, 40,000- 50,000 monkeys and 150-200 crocodiles in the mangrove forest. Three wildlife sanctuaries were established in 1977 under the Bangladesh Wildlife [Preservation] Order, 1973. These are the Sundarban East Wildlife Sanctuary, South Wildlife Sanctuary and West Wildlife Sanctuary.