Sundarbans - The Magic Delta
– Shri Rahul Verma

Sundarbans – the largest delta on the globe in the estuarine phase of the Ganges-Bramhaputra river system is a unique bioclimatic zone in a typical geographical situation in the coastal region of Bay of Bengal. This southernmost part of Bengal which is a landmark of ancient mythological and historical events is also bestowed with magnificent scenic beauty and natural resources and is internationally recognized for its wide bio-diversity of mangrove flora and fauna both on land and water and is of immense scientific, anthropological and archaeological interests.

The Sundarbans is the only mangrove forest in the globe where the tiger occupies the pinnacle of both the aquatic as well as the terrestrial food pyramid.



The total area of Sundarbans is spread over 26,000 Sq.Kms. The total area in West Bengal is 9630 Sq.Km. bounded by the imaginary Dumpier Hodges line as per the survey and demarcation done during the early nineteenth century. At present this area bears over 4264 Sq.Kms. of mangrove forests which includes more than 60% of the mangrove forests of the country and hosts the Sundarban Tiger Reserve created in 1973 which is over 2585 Sq.Km. and a National Park comprising the core of the Sundarban Tiger Reserve spread over 1330 Sq.Km. It has three Wild Life Sanctuaries, namely Sajnakhali Wild Life Sanctuary, Lothian Island, Haliday Islands and forest areas under South 24 Parganas Division. The remaining areas comprise the reclaimed intertidal zones supporting habitations and agriculture yielding mostly mono-crops of paddy as well as the foreshore areas of rivers and creeks of the estuaries. Considering the importance of this biogeographical region of Bengalian river forests and its bio-diversity preservation, the National Park and the Sundarban Tiger Reserve has been included in the list of the World Natural Heritage sites in 1985.



The whole of Sundarbans has been declared as a Biosphere Reserve in 1989, under the Natural Man and Biosphere Reserve Programmes to conserve the bio-diversity of Sundarbans.

The Sundarban Tiger Reserve was created to ensure effective protection for the magnificent Royal Bengal Tiger along with its faunal and floral associates in the mangrove forests of Sundarbans through intensive management. Out of the total area of 2585 Sq.Km. an area of 1330 Sq.Km. is the `Core Area’ and the remaining 1255 Sq.Km. is the `Buffer Area’. Within the Buffer Zone Sajnikhali Wildlife Sanctuary was created in 1976 covering an area of 362.34 Sq.Km. and the core area of the reserve declared as a National Park in 1984. Besides being the only mangrove tiger land in the globe, this tiger reserve harbours the largest number of tigers among the tiger Reserves of India.


The Mangrove tract in Sundarban signifies the special ecological effect due to tidal ingress of sea undeterred by upstream flow and the plant community manifests abnormal adaptation like development of breathing roots, stilt roots etc. The main species of the Sundarbans are Baien, Keora, Garjan, Genwa, Khalst, Kankra, Tora, Bakul, Sundari, Passur, Dhundul, HENTAL, Golpata etc.

The magnificent animals on land include the Royal Bengal Tiger, spotted deer, wild boars, jungle cat, fishing cat, monkey, Indian fox, jackal, water monitor, monitor lizard and snakes. The aquatic fauna include rarities as the estuarine crocodile, gangetic dolphin, sharks, river terrapin, marine turtles, marine snakes, different types of crabs, tiger prawns, hilsa fish etc.
Features of Sundarbans:

• Only Mangrove Tiger Land in the Globe.
  
• The mangrove forests here comprise more than 60% of the total Indian mangroves and forms the largest nursery for fish and shellfish and are responsible for the coastal fishing of whole Eastern India
  
• The mangrove plant associations exhibit the greatest generic and species diversity than any large mangrove reserve in the world.
  
• It harbours a good number of endangered species – e.g. the Bengal tiger, estuarine crocodile, fishing cat, Salvador lizard, gangetic dolphin, river terrapin, marine turtles, crabs etc.
  
• It saves Kolkata and neighboring areas from the annual low pressure catastrophe, acting as an effective wind barrier.
  
• This mangrove belt forms a number of monsoon heronries as the winter swamps home for the Trans-Himalayan migratory birds.