Sundarbans National Park
A mangrove forest reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site in India.
Sundarbans National Park is a national park in West Bengal, India, serving as the core area of both a tiger reserve and a biosphere reserve. Situated on the Ganges Delta, it forms part of the larger Sundarbans region and lies adjacent to the Sundarban Reserve Forest in Bangladesh, to the southwest of that country. The delta is extensively covered by mangrove forests and ranks among the most significant reserves for the Bengal tiger, also hosting diverse bird, reptile, and invertebrate species, such as the salt-water crocodile.
The park’s history of formal protection began with the establishment of the first forest management division for the Sundarbans in 1869. In 1875, a large portion of the mangrove forests was designated as reserved forests under the Forest Act of 1865, with the remainder following the next year. Administration shifted from civil authorities to the Forest Department, and a dedicated forest division was created in 1879, headquartered in what is now Khulna, Bangladesh. The first management plan covered 1893–1898. In 1911, the area was described as a water-logged jungle, largely unexamined and excluded from the census, stretching from the Hugli River mouth to the Meghna River, bordered by the districts of 24 Parganas, Khulna, and Bakerganj. Its total area, including water, was estimated, and it was noted for abundant tigers and wild beasts, with unsuccessful reclamation attempts. The delta is intersected by numerous river channels and creeks, some providing water communication across Bengal.
The present national park was declared the core area of the Sundarban Tiger Reserve in 1973, a wildlife sanctuary in 1977, and finally a national park on 4 May 1984. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, designated a Ramsar site in 2019, and recognized as a World Network of Biosphere Reserve on 10 November 2001. The Directorate of Forest administers the park, with the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) as the senior executive. The park is divided into two ranges, further split into beats, and employs floating watch stations and camps to deter poachers. Funding comes from the state government, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, and Project Tiger from the central government, with a US$20,000 grant from the World Heritage Fund in 2001 for India-Bangladesh promotion.
Geographically, the park lies between 21° 432′–2
- declared_national_park
- 4 May 1984
- unesco_world_heritage_site
- 1987
- ramsar_site
- 2019
- biosphere_reserve_designation
- 10 November 2001
- average_altitude
- 7.5 m above sea level
- area_estimated_1911
- 16,900 square kilometres (6,526 sq mi)
- temperature_range
- 20 °C to 48 °C
Verified Timeline
Quick Facts
- Iucn Category
- II
- Mapframe
- Yes
- Mapframe-Zoom
- 9
- Location
- South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India
- Nearest City
- Kolkata
- Governing Body
- Government of India
- Area
- 1330.10 sq. km.
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Sundarbans National Park is located between 21° 432′ – 21° 55′ N latitude and 88° 42′ – 89° 04′ E longitude, composed of 54 small islands intersected by distributaries of the Ganges River. The first forest management division was established in 1869. In 1875 a large portion of the mangrove forests was declared as reserved forests under the Forest Act, 1865 (Act VIII of 1865). The park was declared the core area of Sundarban Tiger Reserve in 1973, a wildlife sanctuary in 1977, and a national park on 4 May 1984. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1987, and it has been designated as a Ramsar site since 2019. It is considered as a World Network of Biosphere Reserve (Man and Biosphere Reserve) from 10 November 2001. The park is administered by the Directorate of Forest, with the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Wildlife & Bio-Diversity & ex-officio Chief Wildlife Warden, West Bengal, as the senior most executive officer. The park area is divided into two ranges, each sub-divided into beats, with floating watch stations and camps to protect against poachers. Financial aid comes from the state government as well as the Ministry of Environment and Forests under various plan and non-plan budgets. Additional funding is received under the Project Tiger from the Central Government. In 2001, a grant of US$20,000 was received as preparatory assistance for promotion between India and Bangladesh from the World Heritage Fund.
Reader's Guide
Sundarbans National Park holds significance as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (inscribed 1987) and a Ramsar site (since 2019), recognized for its dense mangrove forests and role as one of the largest reserves for the Bengal tiger. The park is part of a biosphere reserve designated on 10 November 2001 under the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Its eco-geography depends on tidal effects, with two flow tides and two ebb tides daily, a tidal range of 3–5 m (up to 8 m in normal spring tide), and a great natural depression called the Swatch of No Ground in the Bay of Bengal where the depth of water changes suddenly from 20 m to 500 m. The park hosts endangered species including the royal Bengal tiger, saltwater crocodile, river terrapin, olive ridley turtle, Ganges river dolphin, hawksbill turtle, and mangrove horseshoe crab. Management focuses on eco-conservation, eco-development, training, education and research, with ten Forest Protection Committees and 14 Eco-development Committees formed on the fringe of Sundarbans Tiger Reserve. The core area is free from all human disturbances such as collection of wood, honey, fishing, and other forest products, while in the buffer area, these activities are permitted in limited form.
Did You Know?
- The park is composed of 54 small islands intersected by several distributaries of the Ganges River.
- The average altitude of the park is 7.5 m above sea level.
- In 1911, the Sundarbans was described as a tract of unexamined waste country and was excluded from the census.
- The first management plan for the Sundarbans was written for the period 1893–1898.
- A grant of US$20,000 was received as preparatory assistance for promotion between India and Bangladesh from the World Heritage Fund in 2001.
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