As poaching and climate threats intensify, Bangladesh’s Sundarbans forest guards wage daily battles to protect tigers, mangroves and coastal communities vital to global biodiversity and climate resilience.
The humid morning air hangs heavy as forest patrol teams move cautiously through dense mangrove roots and muddy tidal creeks in Bangladesh’s Sundarbans. Suddenly they halt. Hidden between two trees lies a long nylon snare part of a deadly trap set for deer but capable of killing a Royal Bengal tiger. For Md Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Eastern Sundarbans, this discovery represents the daily reality of defending one of the world’s most important natural ecosystems.
“If the forest thrives, wildlife thrives. And the forest thrives when people around it are conscious and responsible,” Rezaul said.
Protecting a global ecological lifeline
The Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site shared by Bangladesh and India, is home to the endangered Royal Bengal tiger and hundreds of other species. It also acts as a natural shield against cyclones storm surges and rising sea levels, protecting millions of people living along Bangladesh’s vulnerable coastline. Scientists also recognise mangrove ecosystems like the Sundarbans as critical “blue carbon” reserves capable of storing vast amounts of carbon and helping combat global climate change.
Bangladesh’s portion of the Sundarbans is divided into eastern and western administrative zones. Rezaul oversees the eastern division, which covers parts of Bagerhat and Khulna districts and includes some of the most sensitive wildlife habitats in the forest.
During the past eight months under his leadership, forest authorities conducted 328 anti-poaching operations, filed cases against 330 individuals and arrested 311 suspects. Officials also seized large volumes of illegal hunting equipment, including thousands of traps poisoned fish and venison.
The silent threat to tigers
Poachers primarily target spotted deer, the main prey of Sundarbans tigers. Experts estimate that each tiger requires around 50 to 60 kilograms of meat per week, roughly equivalent to one full-grown deer. A decline in deer populations directly threatens tiger survival.
Tiger numbers in Bangladesh’s Sundarbans have increased in recent years and currently stand at around 125. However illegal hunting continues to endanger both prey and predators.
Poachers use several types of traps deep inside the forest. These include rope and wire snares designed to catch deer but often injuring or killing tigers accidentally.
“A tiger is extremely powerful. When it struggles to escape, nylon ropes can cut deep into its muscles, sometimes causing fatal injuries,” Rezaul explained.
In one past incident, a tiger was found with a severed leg after becoming trapped. In other cases, tigers that managed to break free later died from severe injuries.
Tradition demand and conservation challenges
Illegal hunting persists partly due to longstanding cultural practices and local demand for venison. For some communities living near the forest, selling deer meat has been a source of income for generations.
Rezaul believes conservation efforts must address these social realities. “Poverty is not the main obstacle. Habit and misconceptions about wildlife are bigger challenges. People living around the forest must understand that their survival is linked with the forest’s survival,” he said.
Authorities and conservation groups have been working to promote alternative livelihoods community-based conservation and ecotourism initiatives to reduce reliance on forest exploitation.
Technology strengthens patrol operations
Forest protection methods have evolved significantly in recent years. Earlier patrol teams mainly relied on boats navigating canals and rivers. Now continuous foot patrols search deep inside the forest to locate traps before wildlife is harmed.
Smart patrol teams equipped with GPS trackers and digital monitoring tools have improved surveillance. The recent addition of drones has further strengthened enforcement by helping detect illegal boats fishing activities and trap networks in remote waterways.
Drone monitoring has also helped authorities dismantle illegal shrimp-drying facilities inside protected forest areas, reducing both operational time and fuel costs.
The eastern Sundarbans currently maintains 43 forest camps where guards conduct regular patrols, often working under challenging and dangerous conditions.
A lifelong journey shaped by nature
Rezaul’s commitment to wildlife conservation began during childhood in Sirajganj, where he grew up raising domestic animals and developed a deep affection for nature. He later studied forestry at Chittagong University, where academic training and extensive field trips across Bangladesh’s forests strengthened his conservation philosophy.
He joined the Bangladesh Forest Department in 1994 and has since worked across coastal hill and wetland ecosystems. His professional journey also includes collaboration with international organisations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
In recognition of his contributions, he received Bangladesh’s highest national honour for wildlife conservation in 2022.
Lessons from disasters and climate resilience
The Sundarbans plays a crucial role in protecting coastal communities from natural disasters. Mangrove forests significantly reduced the impact of major cyclones, including Sidr in 2007 and Aila in 2009, helping save thousands of lives and reducing economic losses.
Bangladesh expanded coastal afforestation programmes after the devastating 1991 cyclone, which claimed nearly 300,000 lives. These green belts now serve as natural barriers against storms while supporting wildlife habitats.
Despite its resilience, the Sundarbans faces increasing climate risks, including salinity intrusion sea-level rise and habitat degradation, making conservation efforts more urgent than ever.
Restoring order during mass gatherings
One of Rezaul’s recent achievements involved regulating the annual Rash Mela pilgrimage at Dubla Char, where uncontrolled boat movements and illegal hunting had previously been widespread.
By introducing strict security measures and controlled boat movement under forest guard supervision, authorities successfully prevented deer poaching during the 2025 pilgrimage season.
The human cost of forest protection
Despite notable achievements, Rezaul highlighted serious institutional challenges. Nearly one-third of approved forest department positions remain vacant, placing enormous pressure on existing staff. Many boat operators are recruited through outsourcing arrangements, leaving them without long-term job security or permission to carry firearms.
He stressed the need for improved risk allowances better welfare facilities and increased staffing to ensure effective forest protection.
Balancing people and wildlife
Illegal fishing practices also threaten the Sundarbans ecosystem. Some middlemen reportedly supply poison to fishermen, destroying fish crabs larvae and other aquatic species indiscriminately.
Rezaul emphasised that conservation cannot succeed without community participation. Authorities are increasingly working to strengthen local awareness develop sustainable livelihood opportunities and promote community stewardship of forest resources.
A forest that refuses to fall
The Sundarbans has demonstrated remarkable ecological resilience. After Cyclone Sidr stripped most trees of their leaves, many experts feared permanent damage. Yet within a year, the forest had regenerated, reaffirming its unique ability to recover.
For Rezaul, the Sundarbans represents both professional duty and personal passion. Alongside his service, he is currently pursuing a PhD focusing on human–wildlife conflict involving fishing cats in northeastern Bangladesh.
As patrol teams continue to navigate muddy creeks and dense mangrove corridors, he remains hopeful about the future.
Standing on the shifting edge between land and sea, the Sundarbans continues to protect millions of people from natural disasters while sheltering rare wildlife. For Rezaul and his team, safeguarding the forest is more than conservation work. It is a commitment to protecting a global natural heritage and securing the future of coastal communities.
“The Sundarbans protects us every day,” he said. “Protecting it means protecting ourselves.”
