New wildlife sanctuary notified near Sunderbans tiger reserve

Kolkata: A new wildlife sanctuary has been developed adjoining Sunderbans Tiger Reserve, the world’s largest mangrove forest and an UNESCO world heritage site, for better management and protection of the big cats.

"The new sanctuary - West Sunderban wildlife sanctuary, just outside the tiger reserve has recently been notified and has an area of 550 sq km," NC Bahuguna, state’s principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife) told PTI in Kolkata.

Bahuguna, also the state chief wildlife warden, said that the area was not a part of STR and located in the western side of the tiger reserve.

Asked about the presence of tiger in the new sanctuary, he said that there were about 22 big cats outside STR and the new sanctuary has about 10 to 12 of them.

Apart from tigers, crocodile, deer, wild boar, monitor and lizards were also found in the new sanctuary, he said.

To a question, he said the new sanctuary was notified for better management and protection of the tigers.

PTI