Head to Sunderban National Park to see a Royal Bangal Tiger
Categories: Sundarban National Park
Sundarban National Park in West Bengal is a great place to visit when you want to get away from modern life, look at greenery, and wildlife, bird watching, explore, and maybe, just maybe, see a Royal Bengali Tiger! It is a place where the land reaches the sea so you can also enjoy what the coast has to offer too. It is the largest National Park and Tiger Reserve in India and is also a biosphere reserve. Since 1985 it has also been a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. it is a delta covered with mangrove forests making it home to many other species.
Where does its name come from?
The name comes from Sundari trees which are found all over the park. It is also thought that it could be a manipulation of the word Shamundrobun which is Bengali for Sea Forest. The only way to travel through the park is via boat down various lanes that are created by the many different rivers. There are several local boats and vessels that provide transportation as well as a guide and park expert. The only government approve resort in the park is at Sunderban Tiger Camp where you can enjoy accommodation on land and safaris with private tours and fixed departures. As well as trying to spot a Royal Bangal tiger from a boat safari you might also head to several spots create for watching nature such as the Burirdabri Watch Tower, the Sudhanyakali Watch Tower, the Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project, Halliday island and such.
Exploring a rich paradise
A large portion of Sunderban is left to nature and those that inhabit such places. People are not allowed into the core of the place. The park is made up of 54 small islands and the average altitude is 7.5m over sea level. It is an extremely beautiful place to visit with much to see and enjoy even if you do not spot the Royal Bengali tiger. Hundreds of plant species and animals can be found there and conservation efforts and management are ongoing for this unique ecology and ecosystem.
There are more than 400 tigers living there with the second-highest density of tigers per 100sq m, after Jim Corbett National park. They enjoy swimming in the salty waters and can be spotted on the river banks sunning themselves between November and February when the storms are less frequent. There are also leopards, fishing cats, wild boar, flying fox, Indian grey mongoose, chital, macaques, fox and jungle cats. For bird watchers, there are grey-headed eagles, openbill storks, kites, partridges, woodpeckers, kingfishers, harriers, seagulls, falcons and more.
Some aquatic animals include electric rays, carp, prawn, dolphins, tree frogs, sawfish, crabs, skipping frogs and toads. There are also a number of reptiles, crocodiles, lizards, gharials, chameleons, turtles, snakes, and more. Marime life includes more dolphins, whales and porpoises. The royal bangal tiger is not the only endangered species here, there is the river terrapin, the hawksbill turtle, the saltwater crocodile, the olive ridley turtle, the mangrove horseshoe crab and the Ganges river dolphin at risk also.