Sunderbans
National Park is the largest estuarine mangrove forest in
the world
The Sundarbans
National Park lies in the south-east of Kolkata in the
24-Paraganas District of West Bengal and forms part of
the Gangetic Delta, close to the Bay of Bengal. The Sundarbans
National Park was given the status of a National Park
on 4 May 1984. Before this it was been declared as a wildlife
sanctuary in the year 1977. It was been designated as
the core area of Sundarbans Tiger Reserve in December
1973. Sunderbans National Park was inscribed on the World
Heritage List in year 1985.
The name
Sunderbans is perhaps derived from the term meaning 'the
forest of sundari' (Heritiera fomes), a reference to the
large mangrove tree that provides valuable fuel. Along
the coast, the southern part of the forest passes into
a mangrove swamp, which has numerous wild animals and
crocodile-infested estuaries.
Awarded
as a "UNESCO World Heritage Site" Sunderbans
is the world's largest delta & mangrove swamp. It
is here that the river Ganges creates a unique estuarine
forest whose fragile eco-system is supported by numerous
rivers and lakes that surround the area. It is also the
world's largest estuarine forest and one of the most attractive
and alluring places for any tourist.
The vast
swampy delta of the two great Indian rivers, Brahmaputra
and the Ganges stretches over areas consisting of mangrove
forests, swamps and forest island all creating a chain
of small rivers and streams. The Sundarbans National Park
in West Bengal is home of the Royal Bengal Tiger.
The
Fauna
The Sundarbans forest inhabits more than 400 tigers. The
Royal Bengal Tigers in this saline and aqua surroundings
and are extremely good swimmers. The animal stock of the
Sundarbans is quite varied. As you thrive to get a single
glimpse of the Royal Bengal Tiger you will have a meeting
with - Fishing Cats, Macaques, Wild Boar, Common Grey
Mongoose, Fox, Jungle Cat, Flying Fox, Pangolin, Chitals,
etc. on the way.
The
Avifauna
The climatic conditions at the park creates an ideal habitat
for the resident as well as the foreign birds of numerous
variety. You will be enthralled to find some of the popular
birds in this region. The inviting - Open Billed Storks,
White Ibis, Water Hens, Coots, Pheasant Tailed Jacanas,
Pariah Kites, Brahminy Kites, Marsh Harriers, Swamp Partridges,
Red Jungle Fowls, Spotted Doves, Common Mynahs, Jungle
Crows, Jungle Babblers, Cotton Teals, Herring Gulls, Caspian
Terns, Gray Herons, Brahminy Ducks, Spotted Billed Pelicans,
Large Egrets, Night Herons, Common Snipes, Wood Sandpipers,
Green Pigeons, Rose Ringed Parakeets, Paradise Flycatchers,
Cormorants, Fishing Eagles, White Bellied Sea Eagles,
Seaguls, Common Kingfishers, Peregrine falcons, Woodpeckers,
Whimprels, Black-Tailed Godwits, Little Stints, Eastern
Knots, Curlews, Golden Plovers, Pintails, White Eyed Pochards
and Whistling Teals will make your trip to Sundarbans
extremely delightful.
The
Aquafauna & The Reptiles
Some of the fish and amphibians found in the parks are
Saw Fish, Butter Fish, Electric Rays, Silver Carp, Star
Fish, Common Carp, Crabs, Prawn, Shrimps, Gangetic dolphins,
Skipping Frogs, Common Toads and Tree Frogs. The number
of reptiles is excellent here that are found within its
complex. Some of the most commonly seen are - Olive Ridley
Turtles, Sea Snakes, Dog Faced Water Snakes, Green Turtles,
Estuarine Crocodiles, Chameleons, King Cobras, Salvator
Lizards, Hard Shelled Batgun Terrapins, Russels Vipers,
Mouse Ghekos, Monitor Lizards, Curviers, Hawks Bill Turtles,
Pythons, Common Kraits, Chequered Killbacks and rat Snakes
