The Sundarban tiger population has become one of the most closely watched wildlife metrics in India. Tucked inside the world’s largest mangrove delta, these tigers live in terrain so challenging that counting them requires satellite collars, camera traps, and genetic sampling from muddy pawprints. As per the latest census, around 96 Royal Bengal Tigers inhabit the Indian Sundarbans — a number that reflects both remarkable conservation progress and the ongoing fragility of this unique ecosystem.
Latest Tiger Census — How Many Tigers Are in Sundarban?
The 2024 All India Tiger Estimation placed the Sundarban tiger population at approximately 96 individuals on the Indian side. This figure, derived from phase IV camera-trap surveys and spatial capture-recapture modelling, marks a modest increase from the 88 recorded in 2018. On the Bangladeshi side, independent surveys estimate between 100 and 114 tigers, giving the entire Sundarban biosphere a combined population of roughly 200 individuals.
Counting tigers in mangrove habitat poses unique challenges. Traditional pugmark tracking — effective in forests like Corbett or Ranthambore — fails here because tidal water washes away tracks twice daily. Instead, the Wildlife Institute of India deploys hundreds of camera-trap pairs across grid cells, supplemented by environmental DNA collected from water and scat samples. These combined datasets feed population models that account for the tigers’ wide-ranging movement across waterways.
The upward trend is encouraging, yet researchers caution against over-optimism. Sundarban tigers occupy an island ecosystem with finite land area. Climate change, rising sea levels, and increasing salinity threaten to shrink viable habitat faster than conservation can expand it. To understand what makes these tigers ecologically distinct, read our detailed guide on Royal Bengal Tiger Sundarban facts.
Conservation Challenges Facing Sundarban Tigers
Protecting the Sundarban tiger population means confronting threats that no other tiger landscape in India faces.
Sea-level rise and habitat erosion. The Sundarbans are losing landmass to rising waters. Several low-lying islands have already submerged, displacing both wildlife and local communities. For tigers, shrinking territory increases territorial conflict, reduces prey density, and pushes individuals closer to human settlements.
Human-tiger conflict. Over four million people live in the buffer villages surrounding the reserve. Fishermen, honey collectors, and crab catchers enter tiger territory daily, leading to fatal encounters. Between 2010 and 2023, an estimated 30–40 people were killed by tigers — and retaliatory killings, though rare, remain a persistent risk.
Poaching and illegal trade. Anti-poaching patrols by the Sundarban Tiger Reserve’s Special Tiger Protection Force, bolstered by boat-mounted surveillance and informer networks, have reduced poaching incidents significantly. However, the sprawling riverine geography with countless creeks makes total coverage difficult.
Cyclonic storms. Cyclones Amphan (2020) and Yaas (2021) devastated large mangrove tracts, displacing tigers and destroying freshwater sources. Recovery from such events takes years and diverts conservation resources. The Indian government’s Project Tiger framework, combined with UNESCO World Heritage protections, channels dedicated funding into the Sundarban Tiger Reserve. To see these efforts on the ground, consider joining a Sundarban tiger safari that visits active conservation zones.
How Eco-Tourism Supports Tiger Conservation
Responsible tourism plays a measurable role in Sundarban tiger conservation. Entry fees, boat permits, and guide charges generate revenue that funds anti-poaching units, watchtower maintenance, and habitat restoration. In the 2023–24 season alone, the Sundarban Tiger Reserve recorded over two lakh tourist visits, funnelling significant funds back into forest management.
Eco-tourism also creates alternative livelihoods for fringe-area communities. Former poachers and honey collectors now work as licensed boat operators, naturalist guides, and homestay hosts — directly linking their income to the forest’s health rather than its exploitation. This economic shift has proven more effective at reducing human-tiger conflict than punitive enforcement alone.
At Sundarban Eco Friends, every tour follows Forest Department guidelines: fixed boat routes, speed limits within sanctuary zones, no single-use plastic, and mandatory wildlife disturbance briefings. A portion of every booking supports village-level conservation awareness programmes. Browse our Sundarban tour packages to find an itinerary that matches your schedule and interests.