Sundarbans East Wildlife Sanctuary

Sundarbans East Wildlife Sanctuary

The protected Sundarbans East Wildlife Sanctuary covers 31 227 hectares of mangrove forest. The site was established in 1977 under the Bangladesh Wildlife Act 1974. It is the most fruitful of the three non-joining wildlife sanctuaries established in the Sundarbans at the time, the rest being the Sundarbans West Wildlife Sanctuary and the Sundarbans South Wildlife Sanctuary. The main mangrove species is the sundri, from which the Sundarbans region takes its name. More than 40 species of mammals live here and in the neighboring Sundarbans West Wildlife Sanctuary and Sundarbans South Wildlife Sanctuary. The Rhesus Macaque is the only primate in the area. Bengal Tigers are also present here, with Spotted Deer and Wild Boar being their main prey. Three species of wild cat live in the area, the Leopard Cat, the Fishing Cat and the Jungle Cat. There are also three species of otter in the area, and one of them, the Smooth-Furred Otter, has been tamed by local fishermen. The South Asian River Dolphin lives in some of the larger watercourses. Birdlife is abundant, with more than 270 species of birds recorded in the area, including 38 species of raptors, 95 species of waterfowl and 9 species of kingfishers. Seagulls and terns are found on the beaches, birds are abundant on the mudflats, and there are various forest birds in the trees. 45 species of reptiles have been documented, but the Mugger Crocodile is no longer present and the Saltwater Crocodile has declined significantly. Amphibians include 11 species and more than 120 species of fish.