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The Sundarbans Tiger Reserve (STR) in West Bengal has become India’s second-largest tiger reserve after the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) approved the state government’s proposal to expand its area by 1,044.68 sq km. With this addition, STR now spans 3,629.57 sq km, moving up from the seventh to the second position among the country’s 58 tiger reserves, next only to Andhra Pradesh’s Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (3,727.82 sq km).

Expansion Details

• The newly added area includes three tiger-bearing forest ranges of South 24 Parganas district: Matla, Raidighi, and Ramganga.
• The expansion brings all tiger-bearing mangrove forests under the unified management of STR, ensuring uniform application of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines.
• The proposal was first conceived nearly two decades ago, revived in 2022–23, and formally cleared by NBWL in August 2025 after approvals from the State Wildlife Board and NTCA.

Location and Ecological Importance

• STR is located in the coastal districts of West Bengal, at the southernmost tip of the Gangetic delta, bordering the Bay of Bengal.
• It is part of the world’s largest delta, formed by the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers.
• STR is unique as it is the only mangrove habitat in the world (shared with Bangladesh) that supports a significant tiger population.
• It also holds the status of a National Park and a Biosphere Reserve.

Boundaries

• East: International boundary with Bangladesh (rivers Harinbhanga, Raimangal, Kalindi).
• South: Bay of Bengal.
• West: River Matla (boundary with South 24-Parganas Forest Division).
• North-West: Rivers Bidya and Gomdi.

Biodiversity

• Flora: True mangroves, mangrove associates, halophytic herbs, shrubs, weeds, epiphytes, and parasitic plants.
• Fauna: Bengal tiger, estuarine crocodile, fishing cat, Gangetic and Irrawaddy dolphins, king cobra, water monitor lizard, and numerous bird and fish species.

Conservation and Development Implications

• Estimated tiger population: ~101 (80 within STR, 21 in adjoining forests). The number is expected to increase with better management.
• Expansion is expected to enhance:
  • Central funding for tiger conservation.
  • Tourism potential and local economic benefits.
  • Infrastructure and staff capacity within the reserve.
• Conservationists welcome the move as long overdue, while some forest officials caution about manpower shortages (currently only 40% of sanctioned strength).