GK TODAY -all about Sundarban Biosphere Reserve and Dampier-Hodges lines

1) What is SBR ?
Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, constituted under Man and Biosphere Program

2) What is SBR’s jurisdiction ?
spread over 13 blocks of south and 6 blocks of north 24 parganas district, and includes 1600 sq km of South 24 parganas reserved Forest and 2600 sq km of Sundarban Tiger Reserve

3) What is the difference between SBR and SDB ?
Sundarban Development Board is part of Sundarban Affairs Department, GOWB

4) What is Dampier-Hodges line ?
It is an imaginary line, passing through 24 Parganas South and North districts, which indicates the northern-most limits of estuarine zone affected by tidal fluctuations.

5) What is Sundarban Region ?
Sundarban includes 4200 sq km of Reserved Forest and 5400 sq km of inhabited areas, in 13 blocks of South 24 pgs district and 6 blocks in North 24 Pgs district.

6) How old is the present Sundarban system ?
Around 6000 years

7) What is the tiger population ?
As per 2004 census, there are 249 Bengal tigers in STR and 25 in 24 Parganas South Forest divn.

8) Is there leopard in Sundarban ?
No

9) What are other major animals found ?
Spotted Deer, Wild Boar, Rhesus monkeys, dolphins, estuarine crocodiles, water monitor, sea turtles, river terrapin

10) What is the principal source of livelihood for Sundarban people?
Mono-cropped agriculture

11) Do a large no. of people in Sundarban depend on forest for livelihood?
No; less than 5% people enter Sundarban forest for fishing, honey collection, wood-cutting and shrimp fry collection

12) Why tiger prawn seed collection dangerous to Sundarban ecosystem ?
Because with collection of each shrimp fry, at least 70 fish seedlings of other species get destroyed

13) Where to visit?
Bhagabatpur crocodile breeding center, Sundarkati eco-tourism spot from Bhagabatpur etc, Sajnekhali Mangrove Interpretation Centre, Eco-tourism spots at Sudhanyakhali, Dobanki, Burirdabri and Netidhopani of STR

14) How to go?
From Kolkata to Namkhana by road for Bhagabatpur, Sundarkati, or from Kolkata to Canning by train or Sonakhali/ Basanti by Road for STR areas. A three day visit may originate from Sonakhali and end at Namkhana via STR, Matla and Bhagabatpur

15) How to book watercraft for tour?
These have to be booked from Canning or Kakdwip/Namkhana

16) Why people are crazy to visit core area?
Core area is the Sundarban National Park of STR, and is in no way different from mangroves and fauna of other areas. Core areas are zones of no exploitation or activity, but for the tourists, these areas do not offer better sightings

17) Is Sundarban tiger a man-eater?
No. There are hardly any instances where a tiger, straying out of forest, had attacked a human being unless cornered by people. It normally goes for cattle as its prey. All the cases of Tiger killing man is when man enters into forest. No doubt, Sundarban is a hostile territory and even for tiger, it is extremely difficult to hunt due to limited prey base and muddy terrain. So, man in the forest is considered another prey, which is much easily available as compared to deer or wild boar, which can move faster in the slushy terrain.

18) Why tigers stray out of forest?
Either due to old age/injury when hunting becomes difficult, or in fighting during mating, or loss of direction in a territory intermingled with water and land ( Forest or village).

19) Do we find shark in Sundarban?
Yes, there are six species of Shark

20) How much honey collected in Sundarban?
Licenses are issued to villagers who collect honey from Reserved Forest areas, and the entire stock of around 40 MT are purchased back by Forest Deptt. The produce is marketed by WBFDC after filtration and bottling. Forest Deptt provides insurance coverage to the Honey Collectors against death / injury due to tiger attack.

Note : Dampier-Hodges line is an imaginary line drawn in 1829-1830 to mark the northern boundary of Sundarbans delta. It passes through 24 Parganas South and North districts of West Bengal.