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TIGER CENSUS

Experts stress joint census every 2 years

449 paw prints found so far

Pinaki Roy, back from the Sundarbans
Wildlife experts from India, Bangladesh and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) were exhilarated after finding 449 pugmarks or tiger paw prints four days into the Sundarbans tiger census that began on February 26, and stressed the importance of such joint surveys on a regular basis.
"It would be great if we could do it regularly. We agree (to do so) in principle but our fund is very limited," said Minister for Environment and Forest Shajahan Siraj.
The UNDP gave $50,000 for the ongoing census, which focuses on the Bangladesh part ofthe Sundarbans.
Till yesterday, 22 out of 32 teams participating in the weeklong census have reported their findings. The number ofpugmarks is expected to go up once all teams, each comprising eight members, submit their data and the figures are tallied up.
A given number of pugmarks does not necessarily indicate the presence of an equal number of tigers since multiple marks can come from an individual animal. Minister Shajahan Siraj told The Daily Star that a conservative estimate puts the number of tigers in the Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans at no more than 350, although he said the number could be higher.
"We would come to know the exact figure after the cluster computer analysis of the pugmarks. We have to
take the computer software from India. It will take more than four months to know the exact result," said Ali Kabir Haidar , coordinator of the census.
But the number of paw prints found so far is encouraging enough for the two governments and the UNDP to want to jointly monitor the world's largest mangrove more frequently to ensure its sustainability. Presence of tigers means the forest, the natural habitat of the big cats, is still able to sustain the animals.
"As the Sundarbans is a single ecosystem, we are very keen to hold the census every two years jointly with Bangladesh. If we want to save the Sundarbans, we have to save the tigers," said Atanu Kumar Raha, chief conservator offorest (South) ofIndia's West Bengal. Six experts from India have come to assist the census.
M Aminul Islam, Sustainable Development Advisor of the UNDP, said the Sundarbans is a single ecosystem and therefore a joint effort instead of separate approaches by the two countries is necessary to conserve the world heritage site. "We have to remember the ecosystem transcends political boundaries."
Meanwhile, forest officials were very glad they were frequently getting pugmarks. The 32 teams are spending busy days collecting the telltale marks ofthe elusive big cats.
The census will continue till March 3.