Veterinary support for conservation worldwide
Conflict Tiger Resolution Bangladesh
08th Mar 2010
WVI provide desperately needed training in tiger anaesthesia and relocation techniques to protect tigers and people in the mangroves of Bangladesh. Between 20-30 people a year are killed by tigers in this area, and tigers are being killed in response. Read about how we work to help solve this problem here.
Dr. John Lewis training delegates to take a pulse in a fishing cat (c) Adam Barlow-WTB
One of world's largest tiger populations, 300-500 tigers, lives in Bangladesh's Sunderbans mangrove forest. However, an unusually high level of tiger-human conflict occurs in this area, leading to human deaths and livestock predation. 20 – 30 people a year are killed according to official statistics, but the true number is likely to be much higher. When tigers are found in the villages or fields bordering the Sundarbans they are frequently killed by frightened villagers who surround the tiger and beat it to death.
In order to protect people and tigers, dedicated teams are needed to deal with situations requiring tiger capture – such as tigers straying into villages. The new teams need training in specialist immobilization techniques currently unavailable in Bangladesh. WVI were asked to provide this training by the Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh (WTB), and sent veterinary director John Lewis to carry it out.
A tiger conflict situation occurred the day John arrived in the country, and another arose as the training workshop finished, demonstrating the very real need for the capture teams.
The three day workshop organised by the WTB was attended by delegates from the Forestry Department and from WTB. Animal capture techniques, anaesthesia, and the planning of capture operations were all covered in training, as well as other possible ways of resolving tiger-human conflict.
Future need for collaboration has been identified, WVI, Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Forestry Department anticipate working more closely together in the future. Please consider contributing to this important work.
To find out more about our involvement with the Sunderbans Tiger project click here.
To read the visit report click here.