<i>Create mass awareness to save Sundarbans tigers</i>
Sundarban Academy and Sundarban Supporters Committee bring out a colourful procession in Khulna city marking the World Tiger Day yesterday.Photo: STAR
World Tiger Day-2010 was observed here yesterday with a call to save tigers for conservation of biodiversity of the Sundarbans. On the occasion, a colouful procession was brought out in the city while a discussion meeting held in the conference room of the deputy commissioner of Khulna. The procession, led by Dr Mihir Kanti Majumder, secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, was brought out from Khulna Circuit House compound at around 9:00am. Speaking at the discussion, Director General of the Directorate of Environment Dr Monowar Islam stressed the need for creating awareness among the people to save tigers for conserving biodiversity of the Sundarbans. He said Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh (WTB) is extending active cooperation to the government to formulate Tiger Action Plan and thus implement Sundarbans Tiger Project. WTB will be conducting a social survey from August to December this year in cooperation with the forest department to chalk out a national programme for creating mass awareness on how to save tigers. It was informed at the discussion that WTB has formed 'Village Response Team (VRT) in 27 villages adjoining Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans to save tigers when they come to human communities. Each of the team comprises community people adjoining the forest. Some members of the team have been provided with necessary training on how to use tranquiliser to catch a tiger. Conservator of Forests Akbar Hossain said a separate team of WTB has been staying round-the-clock in Satkhira to recover body of anyone killed by tiger. He admitted that there has been a marked increase in tiger attacks on humans in the Sundarbans. He said tigers wandered into human settlements 254 times in last five years, killing 87 people and 68 cattle. Seven tigers were killed in both east and west wings of Sundarbans Forest Division during the period, he added.
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